Aakash Chopra predicts Grace Harris could be WPL 2027's most expensive player
Aakash Chopra has predicted that Australia all-rounder Grace Harris will be the most expensive player at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction, which is scheduled to take place in Kochi, Kerala, on October 28, 2026. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have released the 33-year-old ahead of the auction and Harris has registered for the auction at a base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Harris is described in coverage as one of the most destructive batters in women’s T20 cricket whose ability to contribute with the ball offers franchises an all-round option. With limited slots available across the five WPL teams, the pool of available players is smaller than in a full auction, increasing the relative value of proven match-winners. Chopra offered his assessment while appearing on JioStar’s ‘TATA WPL Auction: Most Wanted’.
Chopra set out his view on demand and player availability when discussing the upcoming smaller auction: “I think Grace Harris would be the most expensive player at this smaller auction. Of course, in a small auction, the player availability is limited. Demand also won't be very high because most teams have held on to their main players. “But I still feel that the kind of batter she is and contributes with the ball as well, she could be in demand,” Chopra said while speaking on JioStar’s ‘TATA WPL Auction: Most Wanted’.
UP Warriorz enter the auction with the largest purse at Rs 3.75 crore, positioning them as potential suitors for Harris. The other franchises' available funds are listed as Delhi Capitals Rs 1.1 crore, Gujarat Giants Rs 1.25 crore, Mumbai Indians Rs 0.9 crore and RCB Rs 1.15 crore. Harris has previously played for UP Warriorz, making a reunion a possibility ahead of the auction. “Who has the biggest purse? It is UP Warriorz once again. So, if the UP Warriorz are keen, I feel she could be the most expensive player at this auction,” Chopra added.
Harris's WPL record is detailed in the coverage: she has scored 818 runs in 31 WPL matches at a strike rate of 149.54, including five half-centuries and a highest score of 85. With the ball she has taken 15 wickets, with best figures of 4/15. Harris is also one of the four bowlers with a WPL hat-trick along with Issy Wong, Deepti Sharma and Nandni Sharma.
The WPL 2027 player auction will be held in Kochi, Kerala, on October 28, 2026, and Harris's availability, along with the differing purse sizes among the five franchises, will determine which teams can bid for her at the event.