The auction is especially important for teams looking to strengthen their batting line-ups, bowling attacks and all-rounder options before the new season begins in January 2027.
1. WPL 2027 auction: Key details
- Auction Date : Wednesday, October 28, 2026
- Venue : Grand Hyatt Kochi, Kerala
- Registered Players : 146 Cricketers
- Indian Players : 119
- Overseas Player : 27
- Available Places : 27
The auction follows the player-retention process, which ended on September 28, 2026. The 2027 WPL season is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
2. How many players will compete in the WPL auction?
The 146-player auction pool consists of Indian domestic cricketers and international players. However, registration does not guarantee that a player will be purchased: franchises have only 27 vacant positions to fill.
Player category | Number of players |
|---|---|
Indian players | 119 |
— Capped Indian players | 22 |
— Uncapped Indian players | 97 |
Overseas players | 27 |
— Capped overseas players | 14 |
— Uncapped overseas players | 13 |
Total auction pool | 146 |
Six of the overseas players represent Associate cricket nations. There are 20 available places for Indian players and seven for overseas players.
This means competition will be intense, particularly for uncapped Indian players hoping to secure their first WPL contract.
3. Star players to compete in the WPL 2027 auction
Several experienced international cricketers and Indian players are among the notable names in the auction pool. The players below have registered for the auction; their final teams will depend on the bidding.
- Sophia Dunkley (England) : Sophia Dunkley is an attacking top-order batter who can provide quick starts in T20 cricket. She is one of only two players registered at the highest base price of ₹50 lakh. She previously played for Gujarat Giants in the WPL.
- Sophie Molineux (Australia) : The Australian all-rounder is another headline entrant. Her left-arm spin and batting make her a versatile T20 option. She was released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the auction.
- G Kamalini (India) : The young Indian wicketkeeper-batter has entered the auction after being released by Mumbai Indians. She is among the domestic players who could attract interest from franchises seeking Indian batting and wicketkeeping options.
- Kiran Navgire (India) : Known for her aggressive batting, Navgire is an option for teams looking to add power hitting to their middle order. She was released by UP Warriorz before the 2027 auction.
- Heather Graham (Australia) : Graham offers all-round skills, with the ability to contribute with both bat and ball. She is among the overseas players registered at ₹40 lakh.
- Jess Jonassen (Australia) : Jonassen is an experienced left-arm spinner and lower-order batter. Her experience in franchise cricket could make her an option for teams looking to strengthen their spin-bowling resources.
4. Base prices for WPL 2027 auction players
Players nominate a base price, which serves as the starting point for bidding. The winning bid can be higher depending on the interest shown by franchises.
Base price | Registered players |
|---|---|
₹50 lakh | 2 |
₹40 lakh | 4 |
₹30 lakh | 30 |
₹20 lakh | 3 |
₹10 lakh | 107 |
Total | 146 |
The ₹10 lakh group makes up the largest part of the auction pool. A low base price does not mean a player will necessarily be bought cheaply; competitive bidding can raise the final price.
5. Team-wise auction purse and available slots
The five WPL franchises will enter the auction with different squad requirements and remaining budgets. The official WPL retention announcement provides the following figures.
Team | Players retained | Available slots | Remaining purse |
|---|---|---|---|
Delhi Capitals | 13 | 5 | ₹1.10 crore |
Gujarat Giants | 15 | 3 | ₹1.25 crore |
Mumbai Indians | 11 | 7 | ₹1.00 crore |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | 5 | ₹1.15 crore |
UP Warriorz | 11 | 7 | ₹3.65 crore |
Total | 63 | 27 | ₹8.15 crore |
Which teams have the most work to do?
UP Warriorz: They have the largest remaining purse, ₹3.65 crore, and seven vacancies. They have scope to target multiple players across different roles.
Mumbai Indians: They have seven available slots but only ₹1 crore remaining. Their selections will need to fit a comparatively tight budget.
Delhi Capitals: Five vacancies remain, including one overseas position.
Gujarat Giants: Three vacancies remain, including one overseas position.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Five vacancies remain, with two overseas positions available.
These figures make the auction a balancing exercise: teams must fill their squads while managing their remaining budgets and overseas-player limits.
6. Players already retained by the five WPL teams
The auction will take place after franchises have confirmed their retained players. Some of the major names already retained for the 2027 season include:
- Delhi Capitals : Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland.
- Gujarat Titans : Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham and Renuka Singh.
- Mumbai Indians : Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews and Shabnim Ismail.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru : Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll and Lauren Bell.
- UP Warriorz : Deepti Sharma, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone and Harleen Deol.
These are selected retained players, not the complete squad lists. The full official retention announcement lists 63 retained cricketers across the five teams.
7. What should fans expect from the WPL auction ?
The auction is likely to focus on several key squad-building needs:
- Indian batting depth: With 119 Indian players registered and 20 domestic positions available, uncapped and capped Indian players will compete for limited places.
- Overseas all-rounders: Players who can contribute in both departments offer teams flexibility within the six-overseas-player squad limit.
- Spin and pace options: Teams will look to address bowling combinations suited to different match situations.
- Young talent: Uncapped Indian players have an opportunity to earn WPL contracts and gain experience alongside international stars.
- Budget management: Franchises with fewer funds will need to prioritize their remaining vacancies carefully.
The auction pool includes 146 players, but only 27 positions are open. Therefore, not every registered cricketer will secure a contract.
8. When will WPL 2027 begin ?
The fifth edition of the Women's Premier League is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. The auction on October 28 will allow the five teams to complete their squads before preparations for the tournament.
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