A fresh batch of 277 cricketers – 83 of them from overseas – will go under the hammer in Delhi on 27 November, with only 73 places up for grabs across the five Women’s Premier League franchises.
The opening lot is the so-called marquee set: Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh fly the Indian flag, joined by international heavy-hitters Sophie Devine, Sophie Ecclestone, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr and Laura Wolvaardt. All but Renuka (base INR 40 lakh) and Wolvaardt (INR 30 lakh) have entered at the maximum reserve of INR 50 lakh.
“It still feels like new ground every season,” Healy remarked earlier this year, “but the standard keeps lifting, and that’s driven by the auction.” Devine echoed the sentiment: “We’d been crying out for consistent, high-level cricket – the WPL is delivering that.”
Right to match cards (RTMs) could spice up the evening. UP Warriorz, armed with four RTMs and the biggest purse (INR 14.5 crore), have history with three marquee names – Deepti, Ecclestone and Healy – yet kept only uncapped batter Shweta Sehrawat on their books. Gujarat Giants also arrive well stocked (INR 9 crore) but, having retained overseas pair Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner, cannot use an RTM on Australia’s rising star Phoebe Litchfield, listed in the INR 50 lakh bracket alongside India’s Harleen Deol.
The capped all-rounders’ group features Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry and N Sree Charani, each starting at INR 30 lakh. Further down the order, Assam wicketkeeper Uma Chetry and UPW squad player Kranti Gaud have both opted for the top tier despite limited WPL exposure.
Spin remains a coveted skill in Indian conditions. Alana King (INR 40 lakh) headlines the first slow-bowling set that also includes Asha Sobhana, Priya Mishra and former Mumbai Indians left-armer Saika Ishaque, all at INR 30 lakh. “Quality spin wins T20 matches in India,” former England coach Mark Robinson told BBC Radio recently, “so you can see why franchises plan early for that area.”
Notable by their absence are Australia’s Tahlia McGrath and Sophie Molineux – both released by their 2025 teams – as well as Thailand’s Chanida Sutthiruang, who was overlooked despite a strong Asian Games. Thailand is represented solely by left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong, while USA seamer Tara Norris, the first bowler to claim a WPL five-for, also returns to the pool. No Irish or Scottish players have registered; Delhi Capitals had previously carried Scotland wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce.
The five squads differ sharply in spending power. Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold INR 6.15 crore, Mumbai Indians 5.75 crore and Delhi Capitals 5.7 crore, though MI and DC, having kept five players apiece, will operate without RTMs.
Numbers and strategies aside, the auction will again double as a barometer for the women’s game. As Ecclestone put it last March: “Every bid is a vote of confidence in what we’re building.” Monday night in Delhi should offer a few more of those.
