Australia captain Sophie Molineux was the most expensive buy at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, going to UP Warriorz for Rs 1.10 crore in Kochi on Wednesday. The left-arm spin bowling all-rounder headed the opening phase of the mini auction, which finished in less than an hour of active bidding. Gujarat Giants picked up India wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for her base price of Rs 40 lakh.
Molineux was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning squad in 2024 and missed WPL 2026. Molineux entered the auction at a base price of Rs 50 lakh. UP Warriorz opened the bidding, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru stayed in the contest as the price climbed to Rs 95 lakh in under a minute. UP Warriorz pushed the price to Rs 1 crore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru replied with Rs 1.05 crore, and UP Warriorz sealed the deal at Rs 1.10 crore. Royal Challengers Bengaluru had started the day with only Rs 1.15 crore left in their purse.
Molineux bidding rises past Rs 1 crore
The bidding for Molineux set the tone for the evening. Molineux recently returned to international cricket in the T20I series against New Zealand from a hip injury. Molineux captained Australia to the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup triumph in England, according to IANS, and is also the team’s leading wicket-taker this year. Molineux bowls left-arm spin and bats in the lower middle order, and that record made her the most sought-after name in the first set.
UP Warriorz entered the auction with the largest remaining purse among the five franchises, and they used it to be the busiest team of the evening with eight signings. The franchise brought back Australian all-rounder Grace Harris for Rs 30 lakh. They also signed India off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma for Rs 30 lakh each. Rana will represent her fourth franchise in five seasons.
UP Warriorz added Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce for Rs 10 lakh, along with Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar for Rs 10 lakh each and S Asha for Rs 30 lakh. Asha had been bought for Rs 1.10 crore at the previous auction before being released. Rana spoke after the auction about playing under Meg Lanning, saying she had watched Lanning’s captaincy on television and was excited to play under her.
Kamalini joins Gujarat Giants at base price
Kamalini, released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction, went to Gujarat Giants with little fuss. She had been widely tipped for a big payday, but no other franchise bid for her, and she went at her base price of Rs 40 lakh. Her WPL record for Mumbai Indians has been modest, but she was a member of the 2025 Under-19 World Cup-winning team and has played for India A, Tamil Nadu and the senior team. IANS reported that she recently won the Asia Cup and Asian Games gold medal with the senior team.
Gujarat Giants also added Ireland seam-bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast for Rs 30 lakh. Prendergast will become a first player from Ireland to feature in the WPL. The Giants signed Samaira Raghav, Delhi’s leg-spin bowling all-rounder and a late addition to the auction list, at her base price of Rs 10 lakh. With three signings, Gujarat Giants added a wicketkeeper-batter, an overseas seam option and a young leg-spinner to a squad that already had 15 retained players.
Other signings after the Molineux deal
Delhi Capitals made the second-biggest buy of the auction by signing big-hitting India batter Kiran Navgire for Rs 75 lakh after a bidding contest with Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians opened the bidding at Rs 40 lakh, and pushed the former UP Warriorz player to Rs 70 lakh, before Delhi Capitals went to Rs 75 lakh. With only Rs 90 lakh in their purse, Mumbai Indians pulled out. Delhi Capitals also signed Uma Kashvi, Kirstie Gordon and Nazma Khan for Rs 10 lakh each.
Mumbai Indians, working with that tight Rs 90 lakh budget, signed six uncapped Indian players. Shweta Sehrawat cost Rs 20 lakh, while Disha Kasat, Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal, Sanika Chalke and Akshita Bhagat each cost Rs 10 lakh. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who lost out on Molineux early in the day, did all their business in the accelerated rounds. They signed Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 lakh, Tejal Hasabnis for Rs 30 lakh, Chloe Tryon for Rs 30 lakh and Vrinda Dinesh for Rs 10 lakh.
In all, 25 players were sold in the mini auction. UP Warriorz finished with eight new signings, Mumbai Indians with six, and Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Giants with four, four and three respectively. The five squads are now finalised for the 2027 season, with UP Warriorz holding the most expensive buy of the auction in Molineux.