UP Warriorz finalise 18-player squad for WPL 2027 after auction; Sophie Molineux top buy
NEW DELHI: UP Warriorz bolstered their roster for the 2027 Women’s Premier League at the auction on October 28, 2026, adding eight players, with Australian all-rounder Sophie Molineux the highest purchase at Rs 1.1 crore. The franchise also completed its squad by retaining 10 players ahead of the season.
Molineux had been listed at a base price of Rs 50 lakh and emerged as UP Warriorz’s biggest signing at Rs 1.1 crore. Sushma Verma, Grace Harris and Sneh Rana were each acquired for Rs 30 lakh, while Asha Sobhana Joy, Sahana Pawar, Manali Dakshini and Kathryn Bryce were added at base prices of either Rs 30 lakh or Rs 10 lakh.
The eight players bought at the auction are Sophie Molineux (All-rounder, Australia) for Rs 1.1 crore; Sushma Verma (WK-batter, India) for Rs 30 lakh; Grace Harris (All-rounder, Australia) for Rs 30 lakh; Sneh Rana (All-rounder, India) for Rs 30 lakh; Asha Sobhana Joy (Bowler, India) for Rs 30 lakh; Sahana Pawar (All-rounder, India) for Rs 10 lakh; Manali Dakshini (All-rounder, India) for Rs 10 lakh; and Kathryn Bryce (All-rounder, Scotland) for Rs 10 lakh.
UP Warriorz’s auction outlay on new signings totaled Rs 2.6 crore, with Molineux accounting for Rs 1.1 crore and the remaining seven players costing a combined Rs 1.5 crore. The reported Rs 2.6 crore figure refers specifically to spending on the eight auction purchases.
The franchise retained 10 players to form the squad nucleus: Deepti Sharma (All-rounder) at a listed price of Rs 3.2 crore; Shikha Pandey (Bowler) Rs 2.4 crore; Meg Lanning (Batter) Rs 1.9 crore; Phoebe Litchfield (Batter) Rs 1.2 crore; Sophie Ecclestone (Bowler) Rs 85 lakh; Pratika Rawal (Batter) Rs 50 lakh; Kranti Gaud (Bowler) Rs 50 lakh; Harleen Deol (Batter) Rs 50 lakh; Shipra Giri (WK-batter) Rs 10 lakh; and Simran Shaikh (Batter) Rs 10 lakh.
Following the auction, UP Warriorz have 18 players listed across departments. Batters in the squad are Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol and Simran Shaikh. Wicketkeeper-batters are Sushma Verma and Shipra Giri.
The all-rounder group comprises Deepti Sharma, Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris, Sneh Rana, Sahana Pawar, Manali Dakshini and Kathryn Bryce, while the bowling unit includes Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud, Sophie Ecclestone and Asha Sobhana Joy.
The updated roster reflects 10 retained players plus eight auction additions, and the Rs 2.6 crore total represents only the amount spent on the new signings rather than the franchise’s full squad cost or auction purse.
