WPL 2027 auction: BCCI chief Manhas hails 'catch them young' approach after two teens signed
Synopsis
The WPL 2027 auction broke its own record: a 15-year-old Karnataka all-rounder became the youngest player ever picked for the league, while a 16-year-old Delhi cricketer also found a franchise home — both for ₹10 lakh. BCCI President Mithun Manhas says the 'catch them young' mantra signals where women's cricket in India is headed.
Key Takeaways
BCCI President Mithun Manhas said the 'catch them young' approach defined the WPL 2027 auction held in Kochi on 29 October 2026 .
Uma Kashvi , 15, signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹10 lakh , became the youngest player ever selected in WPL history.
Samaira Raghav , 16, was picked by Gujarat Giants for ₹10 lakh ; she plays for Delhi in domestic cricket.
The auction pool comprised around 150 players competing for only 27 slots , underscoring the depth of women's cricket talent in India.
The 2027 WPL season runs from 14 January to 7 February 2027 .
BCCI President Mithun Manhas on Thursday described the signing of two teenage all-rounders at the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction as a defining statement of the league's evolving philosophy — one centred on catching talent young and fast-tracking it through elite competition.
The Two Teenage Signings
Delhi Capitals acquired uncapped all-rounder Uma Kashvi, a 15-year-old who represents Karnataka in domestic cricket, for ₹10 lakh at the auction held in Kochi on Wednesday, 29 October 2026. The pickup made Kashvi the youngest player ever to be selected for the WPL. In a separate marquee moment, Gujarat Giants snapped up Samaira Raghav, a 16-year-old Delhi domestic cricketer and fellow all-rounder, for the same price of ₹10 lakh.
What Manhas Said
Speaking in a video posted on the WPL's official social media handles, Manhas called the teen signings the 'icing on the cake'. 'The WPL has come a long way since its inception in 2023, and the icing on the cake was the 15-year-old Uma (Kashvi) getting picked. I think it's a record-breaking thing for WPL and fantastic. I couldn't have asked for anything more,' he said. He added: 'Then there's another girl who's just 16 (Samaira Raghav) who got picked as well. So I think the mantra for this auction was to catch them young.'
Competition and the Depth of the Talent Pool
The auction drew from a pool of roughly 150 players competing for just 27 available slots — a ratio Manhas pointed to as evidence of the dramatic growth in women's cricket since the WPL's launch in 2023. 'We had a pool of about 150-odd players, and we just had 27 slots. So that shows how competitive it has become,' he noted, adding that ongoing exposure to high-pressure situations would accelerate player development and, in turn, benefit Indian cricket in the long run.
What It Means for the Fan Base and the Game
Manhas also underlined the virtuous cycle the league creates between competition quality and audience growth. 'When you see such competitive games, that will help the fan base as well to grow. I think it is good for the players as well because they will learn how to handle those special situations. Ultimately, it is beneficial for Indian cricket,' he said. This comes amid a broader boom in women's cricket infrastructure in India, with the WPL regarded as one of the fastest-growing franchise leagues globally in only its third year of existence.
When Does WPL 2027 Begin
The 2027 WPL season is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February 2027. With young talent like Kashvi and Raghav now in franchise squads, all eyes will be on whether the league continues to serve as a launchpad for the next generation of India women's cricket stars.
Point of View
However, is whether franchises build genuine support ecosystems — coaching, workload management, mental conditioning — around these teenagers, or simply collect them as headline assets. The 150-to-27 slots ratio also quietly signals a selection infrastructure problem: if 120-plus competitive players find no franchise home, the league's pipeline potential is only partly being realised.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Uma Kashvi and why is her WPL 2027 signing significant?
Uma Kashvi is a 15-year-old uncapped all-rounder from Karnataka who was signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹10 lakh at the WPL 2027 auction, making her the youngest player ever selected in the league's history. BCCI President Mithun Manhas called it a 'record-breaking' moment for the WPL.
Who is Samaira Raghav and which team picked her?
Samaira Raghav is a 16-year-old all-rounder who plays for Delhi in the domestic circuit. She was picked up by Gujarat Giants for ₹10 lakh at the WPL 2027 auction held in Kochi on 29 October 2026.
When does the WPL 2027 season start and end?
The 2027 Women's Premier League season is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February 2027.
How competitive was the WPL 2027 auction pool?
Approximately 150 players were in the auction pool, but only 27 slots were available across franchises. BCCI President Mithun Manhas said the ratio reflected how competitive women's cricket in India has become since the WPL's launch in 2023.
What did BCCI President Mithun Manhas say about the WPL 2027 auction?
Manhas said the 'mantra for this auction was to catch them young,' pointing to the signings of Uma Kashvi and Samaira Raghav as proof that the WPL is nurturing the next generation. He also said the league's growing competitiveness would benefit both the fan base and Indian cricket overall.
