The Women's Premier League (WPL) got a fresh start ahead of the 2026 season with the first mega-auction. Franchises came down to ground zero. This time, as the WPL 2027 Auction comes to Kochi on October 28, the goal is to make small changes and polish things.
There are only 27 spots up for grabs, with 146 players battling for them in the auction room.
WPL 2027 Purses and Strategy
The overall purse for each team remains capped at INR 15 crore. However, in a system where unused money reflects squad stability, the financial landscape across the five teams is wildly uneven:
1. UP Warriorz: Starting from scratch. After finishing last in 2026 and failing to make it to the final despite 4 attempts, UP Warriorz made some drastic changes, bringing in Meg Lanning and Abhishek Nayar as new captain and head coach, respectively. The big release was Shweta Sehrawat (unbanned INR 50 lakh).
Despite scoring only 46 runs at a strike rate below 100 in 6 innings, UP decided to release their 2026 pre-auction retentions. However, with Pratika Rawal now fit, they cannot justify having two similar top-order batting options. They could still be bought back at a cheaper cost. They also have a huge budget to play with. Their budget is 200% higher than their closest competitor at INR 3.75 crore.
2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: The biggest name to leave RCB was power hitter Grace Harris; however, it was a strategic move. Ellyse Perry returns to the squad after being absent in 2026 due to personal reasons.
With Georgia Voll to form a top-order partnership with Smriti Mandhana, Perry returns at number 3 alongside all-rounder Nadine de Klerk and pacer Lauren Bell. RCB have a solid 4-player overseas core.
Hot Player and Domestic Stars Marquee Overseas Players
Sophie Molineux: The Australia T20 World Cup-winning captain returns after being absent in 2025 (knee) and 2026. She offers great value with her 4-over spin and provides much-needed depth as a lower-order batter.
Jess Jonassen: Former Delhi Capitals star returns after being absent in 2026 (shoulder injury). She remains one of the most reliable left-arm options.
Grace Harris: Expect a bidding war between those looking for quality explosive hitters.
Domestic Uncapped Players: Vrinda Dinesh & Gongadi Trisha: Former U-19 World Cup winners who have shown consistency in domestic cricket.
Ira Jadhav: 15-year-old sensation from Mumbai who stole the headlines in the Mumbai T20 League.
Key Considerations: No Big English Names.
There are not many high-profile English names in the auction list. Apart from Sophia Dunkley and Kira Chathli (INR 10 lakh), players such as Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Linsey Smith have opted out.
Pay Difference: Top English international players can earn up to £190,000 playing in The Hundred compared to the maximum base price in the WPL of INR 50 lakh (£40,000).
Scheduling: England face a 3-match T20I series in Sri Lanka in early February, which conflicts with the final week of the WPL. G. Kamalini
Dilemma: The difficult decision to release G. Kamalini was made by Mumbai Indians. She is a young talent in contention for the upcoming U-19 World Cup, which conflicts with the WPL. Unlike Men's cricket, the BCCI has lenient rules, meaning players cannot play in consecutive U-19 World Cups. However, there are no restrictions in Women's cricket, so retaining her for INR 1.1 crore puts franchises at risk of tying up key capital for a player that may not play at all.
Auction Format and Locations: The auction will go in the following order: Uncapped Batsmen, All-rounders, Wicketkeepers, Fast Bowlers, Spinners
Accelerated Bidding: After player 50, teams will bid for certain players in the remaining 51-146. Locations are still unknown for the tournament, with Vadodara and Mumbai being discussed. However, franchises are only focusing on team balance as they prepare for Kochi.
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