Kochi hosted the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini-auction on October 28, where five franchises vied for just 27 available spots from a pool of 146 players. The day was marked by strategic bidding, surprising omissions, and significant acquisitions as teams finalized their rosters for the upcoming season.
Sophie Molineux Becomes Top Acquisition
Australia captain Sophie Molineux emerged as the most expensive player at the WPL 2027 mini-auction. The all-rounder was secured by UP Warriorz for a hefty ₹1.10 crore, more than double her base price of ₹50 lakh. Molineux's signing was a standout move, significantly strengthening the Warriorz's all-round options.
UP Warriorz, starting the day with the largest remaining purse of ₹3.75 crore and eight vacancies, leveraged their financial flexibility to make eight signings. Alongside Molineux, they also brought in Sneh Rana (₹30 lakh), Grace Harris (₹30 lakh), and wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma (₹30 lakh).
Kiran Navgire Leads Indian Purchases
India batter Kiran Navgire became the second-most expensive player overall and the top Indian buy, joining Delhi Capitals for ₹75 lakh. Her acquisition, starting from a base price of ₹40 lakh, provides Delhi with a powerful middle-order option. Gujarat Giants also made notable signings, including uncapped Indian batter G. Kamalini for ₹40 lakh and Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast for ₹30 lakh, making Prendergast the first Irish player in WPL history.
Notable Players Go Unsold
The auction also saw several prominent players fail to attract bids. England opener Sophia Dunkley, who had set a high base price of ₹50 lakh, went unsold. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu (₹30 lakh) also missed out, along with Indian wicketkeeper-batters Uma Chetry (₹30 lakh) and Taniya Bhatia (₹30 lakh), and other Indian players like Raghvi Bist, Ayushi Soni, and Tejal Hasabnis (all ₹30 lakh).
Strategic Budget Buys
With the overall team purse remaining at ₹15 crore, teams focused on targeted squad completion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions, added Australian spinner Jess Jonassen for ₹40 lakh. Mumbai Indians, facing the tightest financial position with only ₹90 lakh and no overseas slots, made low-cost additions, including Disha Kasat and Saanika Chalke, each for ₹10 lakh.
Looking Ahead to the 2027 Season
The auction has completed the squads for the fifth WPL season, which is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. With 25 players now signed across the five teams, franchises will shift their focus to pre-season preparations, with UP Warriorz making a strong statement through their aggressive acquisition strategy.