Australia captain Sophie Molineux became the costliest buy at the WPL 2027 mini auction in Kochi on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, fetched by UP Warriorz (UPW) for ₹1.10 crore. A total of 25 players were sold across all five franchises in a brisk session that lasted under an hour of active bidding.

UP Warriorz dominate the auction room

UPW were the evening's most active buyers, securing eight players — the highest by any franchise. Molineux, a left-arm spin bowling all-rounder who captained Australia to the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup title in England, entered at a base price of ₹50 lakh. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) — her former side, which she was part of during their 2024 title run — drove the bidding to ₹1.05 crore before withdrawing, having started the day with only ₹1.15 crore in their purse. Molineux had missed the 2026 WPL season while recovering from a hip injury before returning to international cricket.

UPW also brought back Australian all-rounder Grace Harris, who began her WPL career with the franchise in 2023 and won the 2026 title with RCB, along with off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana — joining her fourth WPL franchise in five seasons — and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma, each for ₹30 lakh. Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce and uncapped all-rounders Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar were each signed for ₹10 lakh. Leg-spinner Asha Sobhana was brought back for ₹30 lakh — a fraction of the ₹1.10 crore UPW had paid for her at the 2026 auction.

The signings, however, create a selection puzzle for UPW. With Meg Lanning set to lead the side and Phoebe Litchfield an expected first-choice at the top of the order, Molineux, Harris, and England's left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone could all be competing for the remaining two overseas spots — potentially forcing an all-Australian overseas quartet in regular play.

RCB, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants: Key moves

RCB held back through most of the session before opening their account in the accelerated rounds, signing Australia's left-arm spin all-rounder Jess Jonassen at her base price of ₹40 lakh. They followed with India batter Tejal Hasabnis — who had gone unsold in the opening round — and South Africa all-rounder Chloe Tryon, each for ₹30 lakh, and Bengaluru-based batter Vrinda Dinesh for ₹10 lakh. With Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Nadine de Klerk, and Lauren Bell — all central to the 2026 title defence — expected to occupy the four overseas slots, both Jonassen and Tryon may find consistent game time hard to come by.

Delhi Capitals (DC) made the second-largest individual purchase of the evening, signing big-hitting India batter Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh after a bidding contest with Mumbai Indians, who exited at ₹70 lakh. DC also added 15-year-old Karnataka all-rounder Uma Kashvi, Scotland's left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon — a former England international who will count as an Associate player — and uncapped Delhi all-rounder Nazma Khan, each for ₹10 lakh. Notably, DC released both Taniya Bhatia and Lizelle Lee without signing a replacement wicketkeeper, leaving 23-year-old Mamatha Madiwala as the sole keeper in the squad — a decision that drew scrutiny.

Gujarat Giants (GG) needed only three slots and filled them methodically. They signed young wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini — a 2025 Under-19 World Cup winner who recently claimed the Asia Cup and Asian Games gold medal with the senior team — at her base price of ₹40 lakh with no competing bids, despite expectations of a higher payout. GG made clear they value her purely for her batting given they already have Yastika Bhatia and Beth Mooney as wicketkeepers. Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast was signed for ₹30 lakh, becoming the first Irish cricketer to be picked in the WPL. 16-year-old Delhi all-rounder Samaira Raghav, a late addition to the auction pool, went to GG for ₹10 lakh.

Mumbai Indians invest in youth

Mumbai Indians (MI) focused almost entirely on uncapped talent, signing six players. Vidarbha teammates Disha Kasat and Latika Inamdar — who had featured in a Senior Women's T20 Trophy chase against Punjab only a day earlier — were each picked up for ₹10 lakh. MI also signed Delhi left-arm spinner Bharti Rawal, 2025 Under-19 World Cup winner Saanika Chalke, and 19-year-old all-rounder Akshita Bhagat — a WPL Speed Queen U-23 competition winner who has represented India — alongside Delhi batter Shweta Sehrawat for ₹20 lakh, double her base price, after a brief tug-of-war with DC.

Big names who went unsold

Several prominent cricketers found no takers. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, England batter Sophia Dunkley, and India wicketkeepers Taniya Bhatia, Uma Chetry, and Nuzhat Parween all went unsold. India spinners Saika Ishaque and Priya Mishra, pacer Titas Sadhu, and all-rounder Devika Vaidya also failed to attract bids, as did Australia's Tayla Vlaeminck, South Africa's Nonkululeko Mlaba, and UAE captain Esha Oza. The 2027 WPL season is scheduled from 14 January to 7 February, with venues yet to be confirmed.