WPL 2027 auction: Players sold and unsold after Kochi event

On Wednesday, the WPL 2027 auction was held at Grand Hyatt Kochi in Kochi, Kerala, where five teams signed 25 players and left two slots vacant.

A total of 146 players — 119 Indian and 27 overseas — entered the auction. UP Warriorz entered with the highest purse value of 3.75 crore, followed by Gujarat Giants (INR 1.25 cr.), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (INR 1.15 cr.), Delhi Capitals (INR 1.10 cr.), and Mumbai Indians (INR 90 lacs).

Australian T20I captain Sophie Molineux was purchased by UP Warriorz for INR 1.1 crore after being listed at a base price of INR 50 lakh. She played for RCB in the 2023-24 season and was subsequently released, and her signing accounted for almost one-third of UP Warriorz’s entire remaining purse.

Among Indian players, Kiran Navgire — who spent four seasons with UP-W — became the costliest Indian signing when Delhi Capitals Women acquired her for INR 75 lakh. Teams prioritised all-rounders in the auction; 13 of the 25 signings were all-rounders.

Eighteen Indian and seven overseas players were picked overall. Overseas names among the selections included Sophie Molineux, Jess Jonassen, Grace Harris and Chloe Tryon, while Indian capped players who found buyers included G. Kamalini, Sneh Rana, Asha Sobhana and Shweta Sehrawat.

Several notable internationals went unsold, including Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, who was registered for INR 30 lakh, along with N. Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Sophia Dunkley, Heather Graham and Sarah Bryce. Indian capped players who were not picked included Gautami Naik, Uma Chetry, Saika Ishaque, Titas Sadhu, Meghna Singh and Saima Thakor; in total, 124 players failed to secure a WPL contract.

UP Warriorz’s acquisition of Sophie Molineux for INR 1.1 crore made her the most expensive player at the WPL 2027 auction.