WPL 2027 auction: MI sign Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal for ₹10 lakh each
Synopsis
In a near-silent uncapped round at the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi, Mumbai Indians made the only two purchases — Latika Inamdar and Bharti Rawal for ₹10 lakh each — while stars like Chamari Athapaththu, Sarah Bryce, and a clutch of Under-19 World Cup winners went unsold. UP Warriorz, meanwhile, have been the auction's biggest spenders, landing Australia captain Sophie Molineux for ₹1.10 crore.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Indians signed uncapped Latika Inamdar and Bharti Rawal for ₹10 lakh each at the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi on 28 October .
Almost all other uncapped players — including wicketkeepers, fast bowlers, spinners, and all-rounders — went unsold in the phase.
UP Warriorz signed Australia captain Sophie Molineux for ₹1.10 crore , the headline deal of the auction so far.
Orla Prendergast of Ireland was picked up by Gujarat Giants for ₹30 lakh , set to become the first Irish cricketer in the WPL.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and India wicketkeepers Uma Chetry , Nuzhat Parween , and Taniyaa Bhatia remain unsold but could return in accelerated rounds.
Two-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) picked up uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Latika Inamdar and left-arm spinner Bharti Rawal for ₹10 lakh each in the uncapped segment of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction held in Kochi on Wednesday, 28 October. The two signings were the only transactions completed in the uncapped phase, with virtually every other player in the category going unsold.
Uncapped Segment: A Quiet Round
Latika, who represents Vidarbha in domestic cricket, was the sole wicketkeeper bought in the round. Scotland's Sarah Bryce — previously with Delhi Capitals — drew no bids, as did India's Shivani Singh and Bhavika Ahire. Delhi-based Bharti Rawal was the only spinner to attract a buyer. Shanu Sen, Australia's Samantha Bates, Sonam Yadav, and former MI spinner Parunika Sisodia all went unsold.
Among uncapped all-rounders, Australia's Charlie Knott — who joined UP Warriorz (UPW) as a replacement for Tara Norris in WPL 2026 — attracted no bids, and neither did compatriot Tess Flintoff, despite being in strong form for Australia A. India's Pragati Singh, Anandita Kishor, Sujata Dey, and Poonam Khemnar — with stints at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), UPW, and MI — also found no takers.
The uncapped fast bowlers fared no better. Eddla Srujana, who served as a replacement player for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2026, Rima Ekka, and former RCB pacer Shraddha Pokharkar went unsold, as did Under-19 World Cup winners Yashasri S and Shabnam Shakil, previously with UPW and Gujarat Giants respectively.
Key Signings Elsewhere in the Auction
UP Warriorz have been the most active franchise so far. Their headline acquisition was Australia captain Sophie Molineux for ₹1.10 crore. Former side RCB chased her until ₹1.05 crore, but the defending champions — who began the day with just ₹1.15 crore in their purse — ultimately dropped out. UPW also brought back Australian all-rounder Grace Harris at her base price of ₹30 lakh; Harris launched her WPL career with UPW in 2023 before winning the 2026 title with RCB. India all-rounder Sneh Rana joined UPW for ₹30 lakh — her fourth franchise in five seasons — and the side later added India wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma at her base price of ₹30 lakh.
Delhi Capitals secured big-hitting India batter Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh after MI withdrew from the bidding at ₹70 lakh. Gujarat Giants signed wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini at her base price of ₹40 lakh and Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast for ₹30 lakh. Prendergast will become the first Irish cricketer to play in the WPL. MI had also earlier picked up uncapped Vidarbha batter Disha Kasat — part of RCB's title-winning squad in 2024 — at her base price of ₹10 lakh.
A Day-Before Connection
Notably, Latika and Disha were on the same pitch just 24 hours before the auction. The two played pivotal roles in a tense chase against Punjab in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy league stage match in Lucknow. Disha opened and remained unbeaten on 66 off 52 balls, while Latika walked in with her side at 119/5 in a chase of 151 and struck a brisk 17 off eight balls.
Prominent Names Still Unsold
Several high-profile players have not yet been picked up, including Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and India wicketkeepers Uma Chetry, Nuzhat Parween, and Taniyaa Bhatia. However, unsold players could yet find franchises in the accelerated rounds scheduled later in the auction.
Point of View
Where proven names may return at lower prices. The fact that Under-19 World Cup winners Yashasri S and Shabnam Shakil found no takers also raises a concern the WPL has not yet cracked: whether it is developing domestic depth or merely recycling familiar faces. With Chamari Athapaththu and three India internationals still unsold, the accelerated rounds will be the real test of how much appetite remains.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which players did Mumbai Indians sign at the WPL 2027 auction?
Mumbai Indians signed uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Latika Inamdar and left-arm spinner Bharti Rawal for ₹10 lakh each in the uncapped segment of the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi on 28 October. They also earlier picked up Vidarbha batter Disha Kasat at her base price of ₹10 lakh.
Who was the most expensive signing at the WPL 2027 auction so far?
Australia captain Sophie Molineux was signed by UP Warriorz for ₹1.10 crore, making her the headline acquisition of the auction to date. RCB pushed the bidding to ₹1.05 crore before dropping out.
Why did most uncapped players go unsold at WPL 2027?
The overwhelming majority of uncapped players across all categories — wicketkeepers, spinners, fast bowlers, and all-rounders — attracted no bids in the dedicated phase. Franchises appeared to be conserving their remaining purses for the accelerated rounds, where unsold players can re-enter the pool.
Who is Orla Prendergast and why is her WPL signing significant?
Orla Prendergast is an Irish all-rounder signed by Gujarat Giants for ₹30 lakh at the WPL 2027 auction. She will become the first Irish cricketer ever to play in the Women's Premier League.
Which prominent players remain unsold at the WPL 2027 auction?
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and India wicketkeepers Uma Chetry, Nuzhat Parween, and Taniyaa Bhatia are among the high-profile names yet to be picked up. They remain eligible to re-enter the pool during the accelerated rounds later in the auction.
