WPL 2027 Auction: Sophie Molineux Tops Bids as UP Warriorz Make Splash

The Women's Premier League held its 2027 auction on Wednesday, October 28, at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi, Kerala, as all five franchises assembled to finalize their rosters for the upcoming fifth edition of the competition. Australian captain Sophie Molineux became the centerpiece of the event, landing the highest bid of the day when the UP Warriorz secured the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder for Rs 1.10 crore. Molineux was the sole cricketer to surpass the Rs 1 crore threshold during the proceedings.

Ahead of the auction, the five franchises retained 63 players collectively, leaving 27 open roster spots out of a maximum cap of 18 players per squad. Seven of those vacancies were earmarked for overseas competitors. A shortlisted group of 146 players, comprising 119 Indian cricketers and 27 international players, contested the available spots. The franchises entered the room with an aggregate remaining purse of Rs 8.15 crore, though the UP Warriorz held nearly half the funds with an unmatched Rs 3.75 crore balance.

The acquisition of Molineux sparked an intense bidding duel between UP Warriorz and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who originally fielded Molineux during their 2024 championship campaign before she missed the 2026 season due to a hip injury. Bengaluru pursued the Australian until their bid reached Rs 1.05 crore, but the franchise was ultimately priced out after entering the day with just Rs 1.15 crore in their overall purse. UP Warriorz Chief Operating Officer Kshemal Waingankar confirmed the franchise entered the auction resolved to secure Molineux "at any cost," highlighting plans to pair her with England spinner Sophie Ecclestone.

Beyond Molineux, the UP Warriorz were the most active franchise in the room, utilizing their financial leverage to reshape their squad. The Lucknow-based franchise brought back Australian power-hitter Grace Harris at her base price of Rs 30 lakh, reacquiring the player after her title-winning run with Bengaluru in 2026. Waingankar called the Harris deal a steal, noting her ability to finish matches. The Warriorz also secured Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma for Rs 30 lakh each.

Aggressive bidding also featured in the pursuit of domestic talent, led by the Delhi Capitals signing power-hitter Kiran Navgire for Rs 75 lakh against an opening base price of Rs 40 lakh. Delhi outlasted the Mumbai Indians, who dropped out of contention at Rs 70 lakh, making Navgire the most expensive Indian cricketer in the auction. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Giants signed wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for Rs 40 lakh and acquired Irish all-rounder Orla Prendergast for Rs 30 lakh, an addition that will make Prendergast the first cricketer from Ireland to compete in the WPL.

The Mumbai Indians, working with an auction-low purse of Rs 90 lakh and zero overseas slots following an earlier trade for Tara Norris, targeted domestic depth. Mumbai picked up uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Latika Inamdar and left-arm spinner Bharti Rawal for Rs 10 lakh each during the uncapped phase, representing the only successful bids in that section of the auction. The franchise also signed uncapped batter Disha Kasat for Rs 10 lakh, reuniting her with Inamdar a day after both starred for Vidarbha in the domestic Senior Women's T20 Trophy.

Despite significant interest in top-tier talent, multiple established international and domestic players went unselected in the opening rounds. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, England batter Sophie Dunkley, Australia all-rounder Charli Knott, and South Africa spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba attracted no bids. Established Indian players, including bowlers Saika Ishaque, Asha Sobhana, and Priya Mishra, also remained unsold alongside wicketkeepers Sarah Bryce and Taniyaa Bhatia as the league prepares for its fifth edition, set to take place from January 14 to February 7, 2027.