WPL 2027 Auction Review: Why the bidding wars never arrived in Kochi

Imagine a franchise cricket fan looking forward to an exhilarating player auction. One marked by bidding wars, players fetching 10 times their base price, and teams interrupting the auctioneer’s familiar refrain, “Going once, going twice, and sold!” with a last-minute bid. But that same fan would have been sorely disappointed when the auction for the 2027 edition of the Women’s Premier League wrapped up in Kochi earlier this week.

There were 27 empty slots across the five WPL franchises and 150 players to choose from. Of those slots, 25 were filled. Only three players sparked bidding contests, which were more like staring competitions to see whose eyes would tire first, while the remaining 22 were sold at their base price. Australia captain Sophie Molineux, who lifted the 2026 T20 World Cup in her first major assignment as skipper, was the most expensive player, acquired by UP Warriorz for Rs. 1.10 crore. Indian batter Kiran Navgire was next on the list, going to Delhi Capitals for Rs. 75 lakh. No other player, however, fetched more than Rs. 40 lakh. What explains the lack of intensity at this auction?

“This was my first auction. So, I don’t have a lot of idea about how these usually go. But still, I think almost all the teams already had players to their liking. They didn’t have a lot of need either. So, maybe this could be the reason,” Neetu David, former chair of the India women’s selection committee and chief scout of UPW, told Sports stars.

While most teams entered the auction with their playing XIs largely settled, the Warriorz had considerably more work to do. The Abhishek Nayar-coached side had the most players released, 10 (including Tara Norris, who was traded to Mumbai Indians).

All out for all-rounders

All-rounders were in demand, accounting for 13 of the 25 players sold. The Warriorz alone signed six of them, a strategy David said was deliberate.

“We were just going to pick all-rounders. We weren’t sure whether we would get Grace Harris, but it was good that no one bid for her. We thought if Sneh Rana and Grace Harris come, we will use them as finishers. Let’s see what happens now,” she explained.

Harris, acquired for her base price of Rs. 30 lakh, was perhaps the pick of the auction. The Australian big-hitter, who spent the first three WPL editions with UPW, scored 237 runs in nine innings, striking at nearly 180 in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning 2026 season.

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The signing of experienced India international wicketkeeper Sushma Verma addresses a glaring gap behind the stumps for the Warriorz. However, the squad’s balance could come under scrutiny, given the overlap in the profiles of several players. For instance, both Molineux and Sophie Ecclestone are primarily left-arm spinners who can also bat. Similarly, Deepti Sharma and Sneh offer off-spin and middle- to lower-order batting prowess.

Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce, an Associate player, gives UPW the option of fielding five overseas players. However, choosing among its four Australian stars, the other two being skipper Meg Lanning and top-order batter Phoebe Litchfield, could leave Nayar and Co. scratching their heads. David, though, is not concerned about the potential dilemma.

“I don’t think there should be a problem. We never know what the situation will be that day and how the wicket will behave. It’s a good thing that we have options,” she added.

Associates aplenty

Bryce is among four Associate players set to feature in the fifth edition of the WPL, the highest number in a single edition. The others are Kirstie Gordon (Scotland), Norris (USA) and Orla Prendergast (Ireland).

Norris is already a familiar name in the WPL, having been the first-ever player to take a five-wicket haul in the league’s history. Bryce, Gordon and Prendergast, meanwhile, impressed at this year’s T20 World Cup. Bryce, who was named the ICC Women’s Associate Player of the Decade in 2020, scored 94 runs and picked up eight wickets in five innings. Her Scotland teammate Gordon chipped in with seven wickets. Prendergast, meanwhile, scored 181 runs and took six wickets. Her contributions included a half-century that helped Ireland register its first-ever T20 World Cup win.

While Norris will wear Mumbai blue this season and Gordon was signed by four-time runner-up Delhi Capitals, Prendergast will reunite with coach Michael Klinger at Gujarat Giants. The two previously worked together at Welsh Fire in the women’s Hundred earlier this year.

Filling the blanks

Klinger used the auction to add depth to an otherwise settled squad. Apart from Prendergast, he brought in Indian youngsters G. Kamalini and Samaira Raghav.

The former Australia international acknowledged that the new additions could leave him with a few difficult selection decisions once the season begins. However, he will hope the Giants clear the final hurdle and reach the summit clash for the first time.

File photo: G. Kamalini was bought by Gujarat Giants at the WPL 2027 auction for Rs. 40 lakh.
| Photo Credit:
Emmanual Yogini

Defending champion RCB, the only side without an Associate player, largely retained the core of its title-winning squad. Apart from bringing in Indian batters Tejal Hasabnis and Vrinda Dinesh, the two-time winner roped in Australian Jess Jonassen. The side’s backroom staff will, however, closely monitor the all-rounder’s fitness after she was ruled out of Women’s Big Bash League season 12 with a hip injury.

DC sought to reassure its fans that it had addressed the wicketkeeping position by posting footage of retained player Mamatha Madiwala training. It also brought in Kiran to add more firepower to a batting line-up that already boasts the likes of Shafali Verma. Meanwhile, two-time champion Mumbai signed a string of uncapped Indians, including Shweta Sehrawat and Disha Kasat.

Barely a day after the auction ended, discussions had already begun about expanding the WPL. BCCI secretary Devajit Sakia even said that brainstorming sessions would be held next year in an effort to increase the number of teams by 2028. David welcomed the possibility, believing it would raise the standard of competition. “Definitely the matches will be more competitive and more good players will come,” she said.

Until then, fans will have to wait until January 14 to find out whether the usual suspects continue to dominate or the teams on the fringe manage to upset the established order.

Published on Oct 31, 2026