Australia captain Sophie Molineux emerged as one of the major acquisitions during the early stages of the Women’s Premier League 2027 auction held in Kochi. The marquee all-rounder was secured by the UP Warriorz for a notable sum of INR 1.10 crore following a competitive bidding tussle. Molineux, who recently guided Australia to their seventh T20 World Cup title and stands as their leading wicket-taker for the year, generated immense interest from multiple franchises looking to bolster their spin departments and leadership options.
The auction witnessed several other notable movements as franchises shaped their squads for the upcoming season. Delhi Capitals successfully acquired Indian middle-order batter Kiran Navgire for INR 75 lakh, while Gujarat Giants secured wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for her base price of INR 40 lakh alongside Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast for INR 30 lakh. Meanwhile, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru maintained a surprisingly quiet stance, opting not to make any purchases through the opening rounds of bidding despite entering the auction with a competitive financial purse.
Auction Highlights and Key Signings
- Sophie Molineux: Acquired by UP Warriorz for INR 1.10 crore after holding off a late bid from Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Kiran Navgire: Picked up by Delhi Capitals for INR 75 lakh to strengthen their middle-order batting depth.
- Sneh Rana: Joined UP Warriorz at her base price of INR 30 lakh, marking her fourth franchise in the tournament.
- G Kamalini: Transferred to Gujarat Giants for her base price of INR 40 lakh after previous stints with Mumbai Indians.
Squad Building and Strategic Depth
The UP Warriorz heavily invested in experienced talent, utilizing their substantial opening purse to add seasoned campaigners alongside Molineux. The franchise secured Sneh Rana, Grace Harris, and Sushma Verma at their respective base prices of INR 30 lakh. Rana expressed enthusiasm about joining the franchise and forming a potent spin combination alongside Deepti Sharma while playing under the leadership of Meg Lanning. With strategic acquisitions concluded for the initial rounds, teams continue to monitor remaining capped and uncapped players to finalize their core combinations ahead of the tournament schedule.
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