WPL 2027 Auction: Molineux and Dunkley Lead with Rs 50 Lakh Base Price
Sophie Molineux and Sophia Dunkley lead the WPL 2027 mini auction list with a Rs 50 lakh base price. Check the full player pool and details here.
The stage is set for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini auction, with a high-stakes battle for talent brewing in Kochi. Heading the WPL 2027 auction list are Australian captain Sophie Molineux and England batter Sophia Dunkley, both of whom have registered with the highest base price of Rs 50 lakh.
The auction, scheduled for October 28 at 5:30 PM, will see 146 players vying for just 27 available slots across the franchises. The competition is set to be fierce as teams look to balance their rosters with a mix of domestic grit and international flair.
Breaking Down the Player Pool
The auction pool is heavily weighted toward home talent, featuring 119 Indian cricketers. This group is split between 22 capped players and 97 uncapped stars, offering franchises a chance to discover the next big sensation in Indian cricket.
On the international front, 27 overseas players have registered, consisting of 14 capped and 13 uncapped athletes. Notably, the pool includes six players representing Associate Nations, adding a diverse global dimension to the league.
Franchises are operating under strict slot constraints, with 20 spots reserved for Indian players and seven for overseas recruits.
The High-Value Targets
Beyond the top-tier Rs 50 lakh bracket, several other stars have set their sights high:
- Rs 40 Lakh Bracket: India's G Kamalini (released by Mumbai Indians) and Kiran Navgire (released by UP Warriorz) have joined Australia's Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen in this category.
- Rs 30 Lakh Bracket: A significant group of 30 players have entered at this price point, including Australia's Grace Harris, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, and South African stars Nonkululeko Mlaba and Chloe Tryon.
Major Absentees and the England Conflict
Not every big name is returning to the fray. Some of the most prominent absences include West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, Australia's Alana King, and South Africa's Lizelle Lee, who was a top run-scorer for Delhi Capitals last season.
The English contingent has seen a surprising dip in numbers. Only Sophia Dunkley and Kira Chathli (registered at Rs 10 lakh) are available. Stars like Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer, and Linsey Smith have opted out.
This exodus is attributed to a scheduling clash, as England is expected to play three T20 Internationals in Sri Lanka in early February, overlapping with the final week of the WPL. Additionally, the higher salaries offered by England's domestic competition, The Hundred, have influenced players to prioritize international duties and the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Player Pedigree and Franchise Purses
Sophie Molineux enters the auction with a strong track record, having been part of the 2024 title-winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad, where she took 12 wickets in 10 matches. Although she was retained for 2025, a knee injury kept her off the field.
Sophia Dunkley, who played for the Gujarat Giants in the inaugural 2023 season, is looking for a fresh start after opting out of the 2024 auction and going unsold in 2025.
As the bidding begins, the UP Warriorz hold a significant advantage. Having released nine players, they enter the auction with the largest remaining purse, totaling Rs 3.65 crore, making them the team to watch for big-ticket acquisitions.