Overview of the Women’s Premier League Auction
The highly anticipated Women’s Premier League (WPL) mega auction is set to occur on Thursday in the national capital. A total of 277 players will be available for bidding, comprising 194 Indian athletes and 83 international players. Among the Indian players, 52 have previously represented the national team, while the overseas contingent includes 66 capped players.
Star Players to Watch
The auction will kick off with marquee players, showcasing prominent names such as Deepti Sharma, who was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the 2025 Women’s World Cup, and India’s Renuka Singh. Notable international stars include New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr, along with England’s Sophie Ecclestone and Australian legends Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning. Laura Wolvaardt, the leading run-scorer in the 2025 Women’s World Cup, will also be featured.
Young and Experienced Talent
The auction will see the youngest participants, Deeya Yadav and Bharati Singh, both aged 16, while the oldest player is former South African pacer Shabnim Ismail, who is 37 years old.
Franchise Details: Budgets and Retentions
Each franchise is permitted to assemble a squad of up to 18 players, with a total of 73 positions needing to be filled, including 23 for overseas players, according to Olympics.com.
UP Warriorz: Leading the Financial Charge
UP Warriorz, who recently retained uncapped Indian batsman Shweta Sehrawat, will enter the auction with the largest budget, four right-to-match (RTM) options, and a significant rebuilding plan.
Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals: Retention Leaders
Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), led by Harmanpreet Kaur, along with three-time runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC), have retained the maximum number of five players each and do not have any RTM options available. DC has also kept young talents Shafali Varma and Jemimah Rodrigues, who played crucial roles in India’s ICC Women’s World Cup victory.
Gujarat Giants and RCB’s Strategies
Gujarat Giants, who have retained Australian stars Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, possess a budget of Rs nine crores and need to fill 16 slots, including four for overseas players. The WPL has witnessed significant bids in previous seasons, with Smriti Mandhana, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), becoming the most expensive player in the tournament’s history at Rs 3.4 crore during the inaugural season. She led RCB to the title in the 2024 season and was among four players retained by the franchise, alongside Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, and Shreyanka Patil.
Total Retentions and Auction Budget
In total, 17 players, including seven international athletes, have been retained across all franchises, with a combined auction budget of Rs 41.1 crore.
