Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Malolan Rangarajan has revealed that the defending champions pushed their purse up to Rs 1.05 crore during an intense bidding war to secure Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction. Despite their aggressive financial effort, the franchise ultimately lost out to UP Warriorz, who acquired the star player for a higher price.
Entering the auction with a remaining purse of Rs 1.15 crore, the franchise utilized the vast majority of their funds in an attempt to retain a key member of their previous title-winning squad. Rangarajan noted that while the team was disappointed to miss out on Molineux, they quickly pivoted to other high-value targets to complete their squad composition for the upcoming season.
Auction Dynamics and Key Signings
- Massive Bid: RCB went up to Rs 1.05 crore for Sophie Molineux before losing her to UP Warriorz at the auction table.
- New Addition: The franchise successfully secured experienced Australian left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 lakh.
- Squad Additions: RCB also brought in South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon along with Indian batters Tejal Hasabnis and Vrinda Dinesh.
- Total Spend: The four new acquisitions cost the franchise a combined total of Rs 1.10 crore, reinforcing their depth and spin options.
Fitness Updates and Strategic Planning
Following the fierce battle for Molineux, RCB turned their attention to bolstering their spin department and middle-order batting by acquiring Jess Jonassen. The experienced Australian is currently recovering from an injury and opted out of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) to focus on rehabilitation. Rangarajan confirmed that the franchise is well aware of her current fitness status and expects her to be fully fit by the end of December after playing domestic List A fixtures in Australia.
The management remains confident that Jonassen will provide a reliable powerplay bowling option, valuable overs through the middle and death phases, and solid batting utility anywhere between numbers four and six. With a solid core of 13 players already retained ahead of the auction—including captain Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, and Shreyanka Patil—the defending champions have finalized a balanced squad capable of mounting a strong title defense.
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