Sophie Molineux became the most expensive player at the Women’s Premier League 2027 mini auction in Kochi on Wednesday, with UP Warriorz signing the Australian all-rounder for Rs. 1.10 crore against her base price of Rs. 50 lakh. In all, 25 players were sold from a pool of 150 as the five franchises completed their squads for the 2027 season, which will be played from January 14 to February 7.
UP Warriorz, who entered the auction with the biggest purse of Rs. 3.75 crore and eight slots to fill, were the busiest team of the evening and the only side to fill every slot. Along with Molineux, they brought back Grace Harris for Rs. 30 lakh — the all-rounder returns to the franchise she represented from 2023 to 2025 before winning the title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season — and added India internationals Sneh Rana (Rs. 30 lakh) and Sushma Verma (Rs. 30 lakh). Asha Sobhana, who went unsold in the opening rounds, was picked up for Rs. 30 lakh in the accelerated round, while Kathryn Bryce, Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar came in at Rs. 10 lakh each. UP spent Rs. 2.60 crore in total and finished with Rs. 1.15 crore still in hand.
Delhi Capitals made the second-biggest purchase of the auction, signing India batter Kiran Navgire for Rs. 75 lakh against a base price of Rs. 40 lakh. The Capitals, runners-up in all four previous WPL finals, completed their business with three Rs. 10 lakh buys — Uma Kashvi, Kirstie Gordon and Nazma Khan — spending Rs. 1.05 crore of their Rs. 1.10 crore purse and filling four of their five slots.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen for Rs. 40 lakh and South Africa’s Chloe Tryon for Rs. 30 lakh. Tejal Hasabnis, unsold earlier in the evening, returned in the accelerated round to join RCB for Rs. 30 lakh, and Vrinda Dinesh — also unsold in the uncapped set — was bought for Rs. 10 lakh. Bengaluru spent Rs. 1.10 crore and filled four of their five slots.
Gujarat Giants filled all three of their slots, signing India wicketkeeper-batter G. Kamalini at her base price of Rs. 40 lakh, Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast for Rs. 30 lakh and Samaira Raghav for Rs. 10 lakh, spending Rs. 80 lakh of their Rs. 1.25 crore purse.
Mumbai Indians worked entirely at the base-price end of the market and filled all six of their slots for a total of just Rs. 70 lakh. Shweta Sehrawat was their most expensive buy at Rs. 20 lakh after going unsold in the uncapped set, and she was joined by Disha Kasat, Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal, Saanika Chalke and Akshita Bhagat, all at Rs. 10 lakh each.
The biggest surprise of the auction was the names that found no buyers. England batter Sophia Dunkley, who carried the joint-highest base price of Rs. 50 lakh, went unsold, as did Australia all-rounder Heather Graham (Rs. 40 lakh) and Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu. India internationals Saika Ishaque, Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu, Uma Chetry and Taniyaa Bhatia also went unsold, along with Australia pair Charli Knott and Tayla Vlaeminck and New Zealand pacer Rosemary Mair.
Sold players — team-wise
UP Warriorz: Sophie Molineux Rs. 1.10 crore; Grace Harris Rs. 30 lakh; Sneh Rana Rs. 30 lakh; Sushma Verma Rs. 30 lakh; Asha Sobhana Rs. 30 lakh; Kathryn Bryce Rs. 10 lakh; Manali Dakshini Rs. 10 lakh; Sahana Pawar Rs. 10 lakh.
Delhi Capitals: Kiran Navgire Rs. 75 lakh; Uma Kashvi Rs. 10 lakh; Kirstie Gordon Rs. 10 lakh; Nazma Khan Rs. 10 lakh.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jess Jonassen Rs. 40 lakh; Chloe Tryon Rs. 30 lakh; Tejal Hasabnis Rs. 30 lakh; Vrinda Dinesh Rs. 10 lakh.
Gujarat Giants: G. Kamalini Rs. 40 lakh; Orla Prendergast Rs. 30 lakh; Samaira Raghav Rs. 10 lakh.
Mumbai Indians: Shweta Sehrawat Rs. 20 lakh; Disha Kasat Rs. 10 lakh; Latika Inamdar Rs. 10 lakh; Bharti Rawal Rs. 10 lakh; Saanika Chalke Rs. 10 lakh; Akshita Bhagat Rs. 10 lakh.
Purse spent and remaining
UP Warriorz spent Rs. 2.60 crore (Rs. 1.15 crore left, 8 of 8 slots filled); Royal Challengers Bengaluru spent Rs. 1.10 crore (Rs. 5 lakh left, 4 of 5); Delhi Capitals spent Rs. 1.05 crore (Rs. 5 lakh left, 4 of 5); Gujarat Giants spent Rs. 80 lakh (Rs. 45 lakh left, 3 of 3); Mumbai Indians spent Rs. 70 lakh (Rs. 20 lakh left, 6 of 6). In all, Rs. 6.25 crore of the combined Rs. 8.15 crore purse was spent on 25 players.
