Kochi: One hundred and forty-six players. Twenty-seven spots. Five franchises, one evening, and no room for sentiment — the Women’s Premier League 2027 mini auction at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi on Wednesday (5:30 PM IST) is shaping up as the most ruthless few hours of the WPL calendar, with a title-winning star released by the champions headlining a pool in which 119 players will go home unsold.
The biggest shock sits right at the top of the released list. Grace Harris, whose power-hitting helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift the WPL 2026 title, has been let go by the defending champions. With Ellyse Perry returning after missing last season for personal reasons, RCB chose to free up an overseas slot — and instantly made Harris the most wanted name in the room. The Australian’s aggressive middle-order batting and off-spin make her a ready fit for almost every side, but only seven overseas slots exist across the entire league, and hers will be fought over hard.
At the top of the price charts, England’s Sophia Dunkley and Australia’s Sophie Molineux headline the shortlist at the maximum base price of Rs 50 lakh. Just below them sit four players at Rs 40 lakh — India’s G. Kamalini and Kiran Navgire, and Australia’s Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen — while 106 of the 146 players have taken their chances at the Rs 10 lakh floor price, hoping one raised paddle changes their season.
The purse table tells its own story of contrasts. UP Warriorz walk in as the auction’s big spenders with Rs 3.75 crore and eight slots to fill around a retained core of Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone and Phoebe Litchfield. At the other extreme, two-time champions Mumbai Indians must fill six slots with just Rs 90 lakh — an average of Rs 15 lakh per player — despite a core of Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews that needs almost no surgery. Gujarat Giants (Rs 1.25 crore, three slots), RCB (Rs 1.15 crore, five slots) and Delhi Capitals (Rs 1.10 crore, five slots) all have money for one statement signing each, and little more. Delhi, who have reached the final in every WPL season without lifting the trophy, will feel that squeeze most.
The released list is stacked with proven match-winners: Deandra Dottin, Chloe Tryon and Amy Jones from UP Warriorz, Alana King, Lizelle Lee and Sneh Rana from Delhi, Danni Wyatt-Hodge from Gujarat Giants, and Kamalini, Navgire and Saika Ishaque among the Indians. With 63 players retained across the five teams — including 23 overseas — this is an auction of fine margins, where one bidding war can wreck a franchise’s entire evening.
The fifth edition of the WPL runs from January 14 to February 7, 2027, and Wednesday’s mini auction is the last chance for squads to take their final shape. Twenty-seven careers get a new home; 119 players wait for another year. Who should your team buy? The paddles go up at 5:30 PM in Kochi.
