WPL 2027 Auction: Molineux Tops Buys, Full List of Sold Players
Australia captain Sophie Molineux was the most expensive signing at the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi on 28 October, joining UP Warriorz for ₹1.10 crore after a bidding war with her old side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
India batter Kiran Navgire was the costliest Indian buy at ₹75 lakh to Delhi Capitals. Of the 27 open slots, 25 were filled, completing the squads for the fifth WPL season, which runs from 14 January to 7 February 2027.
The big story: UP Warriorz go shopping
UP Warriorz arrived in Kochi with by far the biggest wallet, ₹3.75 crore, and eight places to fill. They left with all eight filled and still had money to spare after spending ₹2.60 crore.
Their headline move was Molineux. The left-arm spinner and all-rounder started at a base price of ₹50 lakh, and RCB pushed hard to bring her back, dropping out only at ₹1.05 crore. The Warriorz then added depth in bulk: Australian all-rounder Grace Harris, India off-spinner Sneh Rana, wicketkeeper Sushma Verma and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana at ₹30 lakh each, plus Scotland's Kathryn Bryce, Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar at ₹10 lakh each.
For a franchise still waiting for its first title, it was a rebuild in one evening. RCB and Mumbai Indians have two WPL titles each; the Warriorz have none.
Every player sold at the WPL 2027 auction
Team | Players bought (price) | Signings |
UP Warriorz | Sophie Molineux (₹1.10 cr), Grace Harris, Sneh Rana, Sushma Verma, Asha Sobhana (₹30 lakh each), Kathryn Bryce, Manali Dakshini, Sahana Pawar (₹10 lakh each) | 8 |
Delhi Capitals | Kiran Navgire (₹75 lakh), Uma Kashvi, Kirstie Gordon, Nazma Khan (₹10 lakh each) | 4 |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Jess Jonassen (₹40 lakh), Chloe Tryon, Tejal Hasabnis (₹30 lakh each), Vrinda Dinesh (₹10 lakh) | 4 |
Gujarat Giants | G Kamalini (₹40 lakh), Orla Prendergast (₹30 lakh), Samaira Raghav (₹10 lakh) | 3 |
Mumbai Indians | Shweta Sehrawat (₹20 lakh), Disha Kasat, Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal, Saanika Chalke, Akshita Bhagat (₹10 lakh each) | 6 |
Kiran Navgire leads the Indian buys
The most hotly contested Indian player was Kiran Navgire. The hard-hitting batter went for almost double her ₹40 lakh base price, with Mumbai Indians bidding up to ₹70 lakh before Delhi Capitals won her at ₹75 lakh. She adds proper power to the middle order.
Gujarat Giants were the first team to complete their squad. They picked up uncapped batter G Kamalini at her base price of ₹40 lakh, and made a little history by signing Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast for ₹30 lakh, the first Irish cricketer to earn a WPL contract.
Mumbai Indians, working with the tightest budget of ₹90 lakh and no overseas slots, went for young Indian talent, bringing in six players for ₹70 lakh in total.
SportlyRadar angle: a youth movement, and some big names left out
The most striking signing might be the cheapest. Delhi Capitals picked up Uma Kashvi for ₹10 lakh, and at 15 years and 202 days she becomes the youngest player ever signed in the WPL. Add Kamalini at Gujarat and Samaira Raghav, a 16-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder, and franchises were clearly happy to bet on India's next generation.
The flip side was a list of well-known names who went unsold:
Sophia Dunkley (England), despite holding the joint-highest base price of ₹50 lakh
Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka's captain
Tayla Vlaeminck (Australia) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (South Africa)
That says more about squad structure than ability. Most teams kept their core at the retention stage, leaving few overseas spots open, and those that were available went to all-rounders and spinners who suit Indian pitches. With the likely venues for the season reported as Mumbai's CCI and the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, slow-bowling options such as Molineux, Jonassen, Tryon and Rana could prove valuable.
What it means for India
For India's women's team, the auction's message is depth. Uncapped players such as Kamalini, Kashvi and Raghav will now train and play alongside the world's best, which is exactly how the WPL has fed the national side since 2023. Sneh Rana and Kiran Navgire, both with India experience, also get fresh starts at new franchises ahead of a busy international season.
FAQs
Who was the most expensive player at the WPL 2027 auction?
Sophie Molineux, bought by UP Warriorz for ₹1.10 crore. Kiran Navgire was the costliest Indian at ₹75 lakh to Delhi Capitals.
Where and when was the WPL 2027 auction held?
In Kochi on 28 October 2026. Of the 27 available slots, 25 were filled.
When does WPL 2027 start?
The fifth season of the Women's Premier League runs from 14 January to 7 February 2027.
Who is the youngest player in WPL history?
Uma Kashvi, signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹10 lakh at 15 years and 202 days old.