Former India cricketer Reema Malhotra has identified securing an experienced wicketkeeper-batter as Delhi Capitals' most pressing need at the 2027 Women's Premier League (WPL) mini auction, warning that the four-time runners-up cannot realistically challenge for the title without a proven performer behind the stumps. The auction is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm in Kochi on Wednesday, 26 October 2026.

The keeping void at Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals, who enter the auction with a purse of ₹1.10 crore, released both Taniyaa Bhatia and Lizelle Lee in the lead-up to the mini auction, leaving Mamatha Madiwala as the squad's sole keeping option. Reema, speaking on JioStar, was unambiguous about the gap this creates.

'Delhi Capitals will be heading into the mini-auction thinking about how they can win the trophy after losing three times in a row and what gaps they need to fill to achieve that. The biggest gap is that they don't have a wicketkeeper batter. Taniya Bhatia was there before but has been released, and Lizelle Lee has been let go of too, so Delhi's main priority will be to sort out that spot. This WPL auction is going to be a jackpot for the wicketkeepers, because almost every team needs one,' she said.

Though she acknowledged Mamatha Madiwala's talent, Reema argued that youth alone cannot substitute for experience in a high-pressure franchise tournament. 'In a tournament like the WPL, you need someone who can handle the pressure behind the stumps and contribute with the bat. An experienced wicketkeeper can guide the bowlers, set the field, and keep the team calm in tight situations. That kind of leadership is difficult to find in a young player,' she added.

A jackpot session for keepers

With multiple franchises reportedly short of keeping depth, the pool of available wicketkeepers is expected to attract fierce bidding. Names in contention include Taniyaa Bhatia, Uma Chetry, Nuzhat Parween, Sushma Verma, G Kamalini, Bhavika Ahire, and Sarah Bryce, all of whom could command significant sums given the scarcity of options across squads.

Bowling depth and the all-rounder problem

Reema assessed that DC's overseas batting core — Laura Wolvaardt, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, and Chinelle Henry — requires no reinforcement. However, the bowling unit looks thinner after the departures of Alana King and Sneh Rana. 'Shree Charani cannot be the lone spinner. Either a leg spinner, an off-spinner, or an Indian all-rounder would help Delhi, because without that, they won't have a sixth bowling option,' she said.

She named Australian all-rounder Grace Harris as a possible Delhi target, describing her as a middle-order reinforcement that several teams would chase. 'A lot of teams will go for her, but I feel Delhi will put in a good fight to secure her services,' Reema said. She nonetheless maintained that an Indian spin-bowling all-rounder remains the more structurally important signing alongside a keeper.

On the Indian players already in the squad, Reema pointed to Deeya Yadav — who has played for Haryana under Shafali Verma's captaincy — as a potential top-order option and noted that Minnu Mani, while primarily a bowler and fielder, could fill a supplementary role if required.

Gujarat Giants: depth over star power

Turning to Gujarat Giants, who hold a purse of ₹1.25 crore, Reema predicted a restrained approach focused on backup rather than marquee acquisitions. The release of Titas Sadhu has left their pace attack looking thin behind lead bowlers Renuka Singh Thakur and Kashvee Gautam. 'Kashvee is injury-prone and Renuka is struggling for form. It's a long tournament, so you need a backup pacer,' she observed.

She added that while Kanika Ahuja could slot into the playing XI, Gujarat would still benefit from a bowling all-rounder — ideally a leg spinner — to round off the attack. 'The purse is not that big, but they need a match-winner in this team,' she concluded.

What to watch at the auction

With the WPL 2027 mini auction getting under way in Kochi on Wednesday, the keeping slots are set to be the defining battleground. How aggressively Delhi Capitals deploy their ₹1.10 crore purse — and whether they can land both an experienced keeper and a spin-bowling all-rounder — will largely determine whether the franchise can finally convert its series of runner-up finishes into a title.