WPL 2027 auction: DC coach Batty hails Kiran Navgire signing as near-perfect
Synopsis
Four-time WPL finalists Delhi Capitals left the 2027 auction with a clear gameplan: Kiran Navgire at ₹75 lakh for power-hitting, Kirstie Gordon as a crafty overseas-slot-free left-arm spin option, and two teenage uncapped all-rounders. Coach Jonathan Batty called it as close to perfect as an auction gets — but DC have said similar things before, and the title remains elusive.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Capitals signed Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh , the second-highest price at the WPL 2027 auction held on 28 October in Kochi .
Scotland spinner Kirstie Gordon was acquired and will be fielded as an Associate player , freeing up an overseas slot.
Uncapped all-rounders Nazma Khan and 15-year-old Uma Kashvi were each picked up for ₹10 lakh .
Head coach Jonathan Batty said the auction went 'as close to what we were hoping for' and could hardly have gone better.
DC have reached the final in all four WPL editions but are yet to win the title.
The 2027 WPL season runs from 14 January to 7 February 2027 ; venues are yet to be announced.
Delhi Capitals head coach Jonathan Batty declared the franchise's 2027 Women's Premier League (WPL) auction an overwhelming success on Wednesday, 28 October, highlighting the acquisition of explosive India batter Kiran Navgire as the centrepiece of a targeted recruitment drive in Kochi.
Key Signings at the Auction
Delhi Capitals secured Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh, making her the second-highest-priced player at the auction after a competitive bidding war with Mumbai Indians. The franchise also snapped up Scotland left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon and two uncapped all-rounders — Delhi's Nazma Khan and Karnataka's 15-year-old Uma Kashvi — each for ₹10 lakh.
Batty on the Squad Build
'Really pleased. Does an auction ever go completely to plan? Probably not quite, but as close to what we were hoping for,' Batty told reporters at a press conference. 'We identified early we wanted a hard-hitting or dynamic Indian batter, and we got that in Kiran Navgire early. Getting the Scottish left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon over the line as well.'
Batty added: 'Not sure it could have gone any better, to be honest.' He noted that the side had 'a couple of different pivots' available had key targets slipped, underscoring the depth of their pre-auction preparation.
Why Navgire and Gordon Were Priority Targets
Batty was effusive about Navgire's impact potential, describing her as 'probably the most dynamic batter in the auction, one of the biggest hitters in the game.' He pointed to a specific gap in Delhi's batting — a relative shortage of lower-order firepower — that Navgire is expected to address. Her ability to dominate spin bowling through the middle order was cited as a particular asset.
Kirstie Gordon, who previously represented England before switching allegiance to Scotland, will be classified as an Associate player. This status is operationally significant: Delhi Capitals can field her in the playing XI without occupying one of their four overseas slots — a flexibility Batty noted the franchise has 'used successfully in the past.'
Notably, the franchise chose not to recruit a back-up wicketkeeper-batter, a decision that could attract scrutiny as the season progresses.
DC's WPL Record and What's at Stake in 2027
Delhi Capitals have reached the final in each of the four WPL editions played to date, yet remain without a title — a record that underlines both their consistency and their frustrating inability to convert deep runs into silverware. The additions of Navgire's explosive batting and Gordon's left-arm spin variety could, in theory, address some of those late-stage shortcomings.
The 2027 WPL season is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February 2027, though venues are yet to be confirmed. How Delhi Capitals convert their auction confidence into a maiden title will be among the season's most-watched storylines.
Point of View
Zero-title record demands more than smart shopping. The decision to skip a back-up wicketkeeper is a calculated risk that could look costly under tournament pressure. More broadly, WPL franchises are now clearly scouting globally for Associate-eligible players to exploit the overseas-slot loophole, which could reshape squad-building strategy across the league. The real test for DC is not the auction room but the knockout stage, where they have consistently come up short.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Delhi Capitals sign at the WPL 2027 auction?
Delhi Capitals signed Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh, Kirstie Gordon , and uncapped all-rounders Nazma Khan and Uma Kashvi for ₹10 lakh each at the WPL 2027 auction held on 28 October in Kochi.
Why did Delhi Capitals target Kiran Navgire?
Coach Jonathan Batty identified a lack of batting power as a gap in DC's line-up and called Navgire 'probably the most dynamic batter in the auction.' Her ability to hit spin and provide extra firepower in the middle and lower order made her the franchise's top priority.
Who is Kirstie Gordon and why does her Associate status matter?
Kirstie Gordon is a Scotland left-arm spinner who previously played for England. Because she represents an associate nation, Delhi Capitals can field her in the playing XI without using one of their four overseas slots, giving the team greater tactical flexibility.
When does the WPL 2027 season start?
The 2027 Women's Premier League season is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February 2027 . Venues have not yet been confirmed.
How have Delhi Capitals performed in the WPL so far?
Delhi Capitals have reached the final in each of the four WPL editions played to date but are yet to win the title, making them the tournament's most consistent runner-up side.
