WPL 2027 Auction: 146 Players Fight for 27 Slots in Kochi
Five teams head to Kochi for the WPL 2027 auction. 146 players are up for grabs as franchises scramble to fill 27 remaining slots.
The stage is set in Kochi as the five franchises of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) prepare for the 2027 auction. Starting Wednesday at 5:30 PM, the auction will see 146 players go under the hammer, with teams competing fiercely to fill just 27 available slots across the league.
The Purse and the Pursuit: Which Teams Need Who?
The dynamics of this auction are shaped by varying budgets and squad requirements. UP Warriorz (UPW) is expected to be the most aggressive player in the room; they have the most vacancies with eight slots to fill and a substantial purse of Rs 3.75 crore.
In contrast, the Mumbai Indians (MI) face a tighter financial squeeze. While they have six slots to fill, they are operating with a limited purse of only Rs 90 lakh, meaning they will have to be strategic and frugal in their bidding.
The other three teams—Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Gujarat Giants (GG)—all reached the playoffs last season. Having retained the core of their squads, they only need to fill a few remaining gaps. Defending champions RCB, who already have star all-rounder Ellyse Perry for the season, are reportedly searching for strong local backups to help them secure a third title.
Players to Watch
The auction pool features a mix of domestic talent and international superstars. High interest is expected for:
- Indian Stars: G Kamalini, Sneh Rana, and Sushma Verma.
- Australian Powerhouses: Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, and Sophie Molineux.
Expert Veda Krishnamurthy noted that Sophie Molineux remains a marquee name due to her match-winning experience and previous success with RCB. Additionally, there is expected to be a bidding war for Indian wicketkeepers, as at least three teams are searching for a primary keeper. G Kamalini is highlighted as a key target in this category.
Building the Future of Indian Cricket
Beyond the immediate needs of the franchises, the WPL continues to serve as a pipeline for the national team. Speaking on JioStar's 'Follow the Blues: The Dawn of Captain Smriti', Smriti Mandhana emphasized the league's role in discovering young talent.
"The WPL has been a huge benefit in that we have found quite a few players... now it's our responsibility to figure out how we take them forward and make them into bigger match-winners," Mandhana stated. She highlighted the presence of eight to nine players aged 19-24 in her team who have performed well in the India A series.
The Road to the Fifth Edition
With the TATA WPL fifth season scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, the stakes are high. While RCB and MI look to add to their two titles each, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz are all hunting for their first-ever championship trophy.