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WPL 2027 Auction: UP Warriorz Lead With ₹3.75 Crore Purse; 6 Players to Watch

Posted on 28th Oct 2026 01:16 pm by rohit kumar

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini-auction will take place in Kochi today, Wednesday, October 28, with bidding scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM IST. A total of 146 players have been shortlisted for the auction, while the five franchises have 27 vacant squad positions to fill, including seven slots for overseas players.

 

UP Warriorz enter the auction with the largest remaining purse of ₹3.75 crore, while Mumbai Indians have the smallest budget, with ₹90 lakh available. With limited slots and budgets across the franchises, teams will need to carefully balance their requirements as they prepare for the fifth season of the Women’s Premier League.

 

Several established international players and promising Indian cricketers are expected to attract attention. Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux, experienced spinner Jess Jonassen, Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce and young Indian talents Vrinda Dinesh, Ira Jadhav and Sanika Chalke are among the six players to watch.

 

WPL 2027 Mini-Auction: Key Details

 

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026

 

Time: 5:30 PM IST

 

Venue: Kochi, Kerala

 

Total players shortlisted: 146

 

Available squad slots: 27

 

Indian player slots: 20

 

Overseas player slots: 7

 

Total players retained: 63, including 23 overseas players

 

Maximum squad size: 18 players per team

 

Maximum overseas players in a squad: 6

 

Maximum team purse: ₹15 crore

 

The auction pool includes 119 Indian players and 27 overseas players. The five teams will look to fill their remaining vacancies while staying within the overall salary cap and overseas-player restrictions.

 

WPL Auction Rules: How Does the Mini-Auction Work?

 

The WPL mini-auction allows franchises to retain the core of their existing squads and recruit players to address specific gaps. Unlike a mega-auction, teams do not need to rebuild most of their squads.

 

Each franchise can have a maximum of 18 players, including up to six overseas players. Teams must also manage their spending within the ₹15 crore overall squad budget, accounting for money already committed to retained players.

 

Can teams use the Right to Match (RTM) card?

 

No. The Right to Match (RTM) card is not available in this mini-auction.

 

Under an RTM system, a franchise could attempt to reclaim a released player by matching the highest bid made by another team. For example, if one team released a player and another franchise submitted the highest bid, the former team could use an RTM card—if permitted by that auction's rules—to match the winning offer.

 

Without RTM in this mini-auction, franchises must compete through the regular bidding process for players they want to sign.

 

Mini-Auction vs Mega-Auction: What Is the Difference?

 

In a mini-auction, franchises can retain most or even all of their existing players, subject to the league's squad and retention rules. The auction is mainly intended to fill vacancies and improve team balance.

 

A mega-auction involves a more extensive squad reset, with tighter retention limits and a larger number of players returning to the auction pool. The WPL's 2025-season mega-auction was held in December 2024. The next auction format and retention rules should be confirmed through the league's official announcements.

 

WPL 2027 Mini-Auction: Six Players to Watch

 

1. Sophie Molineux — Base Price: ₹50 Lakh

 

Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux is one of the prominent names in the auction pool. She has international experience and previously played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's WPL title-winning campaign in 2024.

 

Her ability to contribute with both bat and ball could make her an attractive option for a franchise seeking an experienced all-rounder. With a base price of ₹50 lakh, she is among the players who could draw significant interest, depending on team requirements and bidding competition.

 

2. Jess Jonassen — Base Price: ₹40 Lakh

 

Australian spin-bowling all-rounder Jess Jonassen brings considerable WPL experience. She has previously represented Delhi Capitals and offers a combination of left-arm spin and lower-order batting.

 

Jonassen's experience in high-pressure T20 matches could make her a useful addition for a team looking for an established all-round option. Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz are among the franchises that could assess their need for a player of her profile.

 

3. Sarah Bryce — Base Price: ₹10 Lakh

 

Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce offers two valuable skills: wicketkeeping and batting. Her performances in international cricket could help her attract attention from franchises looking for an additional wicketkeeping option.

 

Players from Associate nations can also provide flexibility under the WPL's overseas-player rules. However, the precise eligibility conditions for a fifth overseas player in a playing XI should be checked against the tournament's current regulations before publication.

 

4. Vrinda Dinesh — Base Price: ₹10 Lakh

Indian batter Vrinda Dinesh is another name to watch. She has previously been part of the UP Warriorz squad and has produced promising performances in domestic competitions.

 

Her ability to score quickly could make her an option for teams seeking greater depth in their Indian batting line-up. A return to UP Warriorz or interest from another franchise will depend on squad requirements and the course of the auction.

 

5. Ira Jadhav — Base Price: ₹10 Lakh

 

Young Indian batter Ira Jadhav has attracted attention for her performances in age-group cricket. She made headlines after scoring 346 runs from 157 balls for Mumbai against Meghalaya in the 2025 Under-19 One-Day Trophy.

 

Her aggressive batting and potential for further development could make her an interesting prospect. Mumbai Indians may consider young domestic talent as they look to complete their squad, although any interest or potential bid remains unconfirmed until the auction takes place.

 

6. Sanika Chalke — Base Price: ₹10 Lakh

 

Left-handed batter Sanika Chalke is another emerging Indian player who could attract attention at the mini-auction. She was part of India's 2025 Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup-winning team and has also featured in domestic T20 cricket.

 

Her recent performances, including a reported 85 off 53 balls against Jharkhand in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, could strengthen her case for selection. At a base price of ₹10 lakh, she may be a player to monitor as teams look for promising domestic batting options.

 

WPL 2027: Which Players Did the Five Teams Retain?

 

The five franchises retained 63 players ahead of the auction. The following lists reflect the squad information provided for this report; check the official WPL team lists for final confirmation.

 

Delhi Capitals — 13 Players

 

Marizanne Kapp, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Shafali Verma, Sri Charani, Chinelle Henry, Laura Wolvaardt, Nikki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Nandini Sharma, Lucy Hamilton, Madiwala Mamatha and Diya Yadav.

 

Gujarat Giants — 15 Players

 

Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Renuka Singh Thakur, Yastika Bhatia, Kim Garth, Tanuja Kanwer, Anushka Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Kanika Ahuja, Jintimani Kalita and Happy Kumari.

 

Mumbai Indians — 12 Players

 

Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, Sajana Sajeevan, Shabnim Ismail, Nicola Carey, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sanskruti Gupta, Rahila Firdous and Tara Norris.

 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 13 Players

 

Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Lauren Bell, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Sayali Satghare, Prema Rawat and Kumar Pratyusha.

 

UP Warriorz — 10 Players

 

Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Sophie Ecclestone, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Pratika Rawal, Shipra Giri and Simran Shaikh.

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