England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux have registered at the maximum base price of Rs 50 lakh for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction. The high-stakes bidding event is scheduled to take place on October 28 at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Kochi, where franchises will finalize their squads for the fifth edition of the lucrative T20 tournament.
A total of 146 players will go under the hammer, competing for 27 vacant slots across the five competing franchises. The pool features 119 Indian cricketers alongside 27 overseas stars and six players representing various Associate nations. Franchises enter the auction with varying squad needs and financial flexibility, setting the stage for intense bidding wars as teams prepare for the upcoming season running from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
Auction Dynamics And Purse Details
UP Warriorz enter the auction room with the largest remaining purse of Rs 3.65 crore to fill seven slots, including two overseas positions. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians hold the smallest purse at Rs 1 crore with seven vacancies. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have Rs 1.15 crore for five slots, Delhi Capitals possess Rs 1.1 crore for five spots, and Gujarat Giants hold Rs 1.25 crore for three available players.
- Top Bracket: Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Molineux lead the auction pool at the highest base price of Rs 50 lakh.
- Second Tier: Players such as G. Kamalini, Kiran Navgire, Heather Graham, and Jess Jonassen are listed at a base price of Rs 40 lakh.
- Player Breakdown: The auction pool contains 119 Indians and 27 overseas players competing for 27 total spots.
- Tournament Schedule: The fifth WPL season will run from January 14 to February 7, 2027.
Preparation For The Global Stage
The upcoming WPL season will act as a crucial preparatory event for the inaugural ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled to be hosted by India in February 2027. With international stars descending on Kochi for the auction, franchises are looking to build well-balanced squads that can withstand the rigors of a packed global calendar. Australia dominates the overseas registration list, ensuring fierce competition for the limited overseas slots available.
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