Deepti Sharma is back in Lucknow colours after UP Warriorz matched Delhi Capitals’ late bid of ₹3.2 crore at Thursday’s Women’s Premier League mega-auction in Delhi. The all-rounder, fresh from being named Player of the Tournament at the recent Women’s ODI World Cup, now sits joint-second on the list of the league’s most expensive buys.
“I just try to keep things simple and do the job the team needs,” Deepti said at a World Cup press conference earlier this month. That job will again be with the Warriorz, who used their single right-to-match (RTM) card to reclaim her. Had they opted for a straightforward retention ahead of the auction, the signing would have cost the franchise ₹3.5 crore, so Thursday’s manoeuvre saves a handy ₹30 lakh.
The auction opened with a surprise. Australian captain and wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy found no takers at her base price of ₹50 lakh and will have to wait for the accelerated rounds to learn her fate. Former India coach WV Raman called the moment “a reminder that auction dynamics can catch anyone off guard”.
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine was first off the board, Gujarat Giants snapping her up for ₹2 crore. Mumbai Indians followed by spending ₹3 crore on Amelia Kerr, a player they know well from the inaugural season. With five pre-auction retentions, Mumbai had no RTM options and chose to commit more than half of their remaining purse to the Kiwi leg-spinning all-rounder.
There were further tussles in the marquee set:
• Fast bowler Renuka Singh went to Gujarat for ₹60 lakh.
• Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone returned to UP Warriorz via RTM at ₹85 lakh.
• World-cup-winning Australia captain Meg Lanning fetched ₹1.9 crore, also to the Warriorz.
• South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt joined Delhi Capitals for ₹1.1 crore.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, often active in previous auctions, sat out the entire marquee round despite showing interest in Devine, Ecclestone and Wolvaardt. “Sometimes the best move is patience,” director of cricket Mike Hesson told the host broadcaster during a break in bidding.
Smriti Mandhana remains the WPL’s record signing at ₹3.4 crore, while Deepti joins Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt on the next rung at ₹3.2 crore.
The 2026 WPL season is scheduled from 9 January to 5 February, split between Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. Squads are far from final, with the accelerated phase still to come and several experienced campaigners—Healy among them—awaiting their chance.
As the hammer comes down on the day’s first session, the takeaway feels clear enough: proven Indian talent still commands a premium, but even the biggest names can sweat a little when the paddles go up.
