Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux emerged as the most expensive player of the auction, with UP Warriorz securing her services for ₹1.10 crore after a bidding contest with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Indian batter Kiran Navgire also attracted significant attention, joining Delhi Capitals for ₹75 lakh, while young wicketkeeper-batter G. Kamalini moved to Gujarat Giants for ₹40 lakh.
According to the reported auction results, 25 players were purchased for a combined ₹6.25 crore, highlighting the franchises' emphasis on carefully targeted additions rather than wholesale squad rebuilding.
WPL 2027 auction: Key information
Particulars Details Tournament Women's Premier League 2027 Auction date Wednesday, October 28, 2026 Venue Kochi, Kerala Auction type Mini-auction Participating teams 5 Players shortlisted 150 Available squad positions 27 Players reportedly sold 25 Total auction spending ₹6.25 crore Highest purchase Sophie Molineux – ₹1.10 crore Most expensive Indian signing Kiran Navgire – ₹75 lakh
The auction began at 5:30 PM IST. The five participating franchises were Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz.
Biggest purchases at the WPL 2027 auction
Player Bidding Price Team / Role Details Sophie Molineux ₹1.10 crore UP Warriorz / Australian all-rounder The auction's highest-priced signing, bringing left-arm spin and all-round ability. Kiran Navgire ₹75 Lakhs Delhi Capitals / Indian Batter An aggressive batting option capable of providing quick runs. G Kamalini ₹40 Lakhs Gujarat Giants / Indian Wicket-keeper A promising young talent adding wicketkeeping and batting options.
Complete team-wise list of players sold at WPL 2027 auction
The following 25 signings were reported after the auction, excluding players already retained by their franchises.
1. UP Warriorz (UPW)
UP Warriorz were the busiest franchise, purchasing eight players and investing heavily in experienced all-rounders.
Player Auction Price Sophie Molineux ₹1.10 crore Grace Harris ₹30 lakh Sneh Rana ₹30 lakh Asha Sobhana ₹30 lakh Sushma Verma ₹30 lakh Kathryn Bryce ₹10 lakh Manali Dakshini ₹10 lakh Sahana Pawar ₹10 lakh
Molineux's arrival gives UP Warriorz a proven left-arm spinner who can also contribute with the bat. Grace Harris adds aggressive batting, while Sneh Rana and Asha Sobhana strengthen the Indian spin options.
2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Defending champions RCB made four additions, focusing on experienced international all-rounders and Indian batting depth.
Player Auction Price Jess Jonassen ₹40 lakh Chloe Tryon ₹30 lakh Tejal Hasabnis ₹30 lakh Vrinda Dinesh ₹10 lakh
RCB's purchases complement a retained core featuring Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry. Jess Jonassen offers left-arm spin and lower-order batting, while Chloe Tryon provides additional power-hitting capability.
3. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals strengthened their batting lineup by securing Kiran Navgire, their most expensive acquisition of the day.
Player Auction Price Kiran Navgire ₹75 lakh Kirstie Gordon ₹10 lakh Nazma Khan ₹10 lakh Kashvi Kandikuppa ₹10 lakh
Delhi's strategy centered on strengthening the squad around its existing players. Navgire's attacking style could provide flexibility in the middle order, while Kirstie Gordon offers a spin-bowling option.
4. Mumbai Indians (MI)
Mumbai Indians concentrated on domestic talent, signing six Indian players.
Player Auction Price Shweta Sehrawat ₹20 lakh Disha Kasat ₹10 lakh Latika Inamdar ₹10 lakh Bharti Rawal ₹10 lakh Sanika Chalke ₹10 lakh Akshita Bhagat ₹10 lakh
Mumbai's recruitment reflects a focus on developing domestic talent and building squad depth. Shweta Sehrawat was the franchise's highest-priced signing at this auction.
5. Gujarat Giants (GG)
Gujarat Giants added three players, combining young Indian talent with international experience.
Player Auction Price G. Kamalini ₹40 lakh Orla Prendergast ₹30 lakh Samaira Raghav ₹10 lakh
The signing of Irish all-rounder Orla Prendergast was particularly significant, with reports identifying her as the first Irish cricketer to earn a WPL contract. Kamalini's acquisition also strengthens Gujarat's young Indian batting resources.
Major highlights and talking points
Sophie Molineux wins the biggest bidding battle: The Australian entered the auction with a base price of ₹50 lakh and ultimately attracted ₹1.10 crore from UP Warriorz. Her signing became the headline transaction.
Kiran Navgire switches to Delhi Capitals: The powerful Indian batter secured ₹75 lakh, making her the highest-priced Indian signing of the auction.
UP Warriorz pursue experience: With eight acquisitions, UP Warriorz added a mix of international quality, Indian spin bowling and wicketkeeping cover.
Mumbai Indians invest in domestic players: All six MI purchases were Indian players, offering a relatively low-cost way to strengthen the squad.
RCB maintain continuity: Rather than making major changes to their retained core, Bengaluru concentrated on four targeted additions.
Orla Prendergast makes history: The Irish all-rounder's move to Gujarat Giants marks a significant milestone for Ireland's representation in the WPL.
WPL 2027: Tournament dates and title contenders
The fifth edition of the Women's Premier League is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will enter the tournament as defending champions. RCB and Mumbai Indians have each won two WPL titles, while Delhi Capitals will look to go one better after four consecutive runner-up finishes.
UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants will be hoping their auction strategies can help them reach their first WPL final.
What is the difference between a WPL mega-auction and mini-auction ?
A mega-auction involves extensive squad restructuring, with franchises releasing and purchasing large numbers of players. A mini-auction generally involves fewer available places because teams retain much of their existing squads.
The 2027 mini-auction therefore focused largely on filling specific gaps, adding backup players and improving team balance before the new season.
The WPL 2027 mini-auction demonstrated the increasing importance of strategic recruitment in women's franchise cricket. Sophie Molineux's ₹1.10 crore signing stood out, but the decisions made by the five franchises were about more than headline prices.
UP Warriorz invested in experience, Delhi Capitals acquired an aggressive Indian batter, RCB added international all-rounders, Mumbai Indians backed domestic players and Gujarat Giants introduced an exciting combination of youth and overseas talent.
With the auction completed and the teams preparing for January 2027, attention now turns to how these new signings perform on the field.
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