As the countdown to the fifth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) intensifies, 146 players are set to go under the hammer in Kochi on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Five franchises will look to finalize their squads ahead of the tournament, scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
With 63 players already retained across the league, teams are vying for just 27 vacant spots (20 Indian and 7 overseas slots) with a combined total auction purse of ₹8.15 crore.
Team Purses and Strategic Needs
- UP Warriorz: Enter the auction with the largest purse of ₹3.75 crore and eight vacancies. Having released players like Kiran Navgire, Chloe Tryon, and Deandra Dottin—alongside the departure of Amy Jones—their primary focus will be bolstering big-hitting options and securing a wicket-keeper to complement a settled core of Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma, and Sophie Ecclestone.
- Delhi Capitals: Holding a budget of ₹1.10 crore for five slots, DC retains a strong core including Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Marizanne Kapp. Following the release of Taniyaa Bhatia and Lizelle Lee, the franchise is expected to target an Indian wicketkeeper rather than a marquee overseas star.
- Mumbai Indians: Armed with a ₹90 lakh purse and six spots to fill, MI acquired USA pacer Tara Norris during the trade window. With an overseas slot secured, their primary focus will be strengthening the top-order batting unit.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: The defending champions enter with ₹1.15 crore for five openings. Anchored by Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Ellyse Perry, RCB may target bowling cover or a power-hitter following Grace Harris’s release.
- Gujarat Giants: Boasting strong spending flexibility with ₹1.25 crore for just three remaining spots, GG will look to add finishing touches around their core of Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, and Georgia Wareham.
Scarcity of Wicket-Keepers and Standout Names
A notable imbalance characterizes the player pool: of the 146 shortlisted contenders, 74 are all-rounders, 36 are bowlers, 24 are specialist batters, and only 12 are wicket-keepers.
This scarcity is expected to drive intense demand for Indian glovewomen, with G Kamalini (registered as a specialist batter at ₹40 lakh but possessing keeping skills), Uma Chetry, and Taniyaa Bhatia drawing significant interest. Additionally, Scotland’s Sarah Bryce presents a unique value proposition at a ₹10 lakh base price, as WPL rules allow an Associate player to be fielded as a fifth overseas cricketer.
Conversely, established international names in saturated roles—such as Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Molineux (both in the ₹50 lakh top bracket)—alongside experienced performers like Chamari Athapaththu and Jess Jonassen, could face selective bidding as most teams have already locked in their spin and top-order requirements.
