Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will aggressively pursue Indian batters and all-rounders at the WPL 2027 mini auction in Kochi on 28 October, according to former India cricketer Reema Malhotra. Speaking on JioStar, Malhotra said RCB must plug a middle-order gap and secure a dependable number seven if they are to defend their title successfully.

RCB's Auction Priorities

RCB head into the mini auction needing to fill just five slots, having retained the core of the squad that clinched the title last season. Malhotra identified the absence of a reliable Indian batter beyond Smriti Mandhana at the top and Richa Ghosh in the middle order as the franchise's most pressing concern.

'RCB will be very busy at the mini auction for Indian players, especially for batters and all-rounders, and they have a decent auction purse too. They need an Indian batter because Smriti Mandhana as the opener and Richa Ghosh in the middle order are the only proper batters in the playing XI for now, and they need someone to fill the number four spot,' Malhotra said.

Batting Order Reshuffle Recommended

Malhotra proposed moving Richa Ghosh up to number four to shore up the middle order, which would in turn open the number five slot for Radha Yadav — a role Yadav performed well in last season. She added that Nadine de Klerk is expected to bat at six as the designated finisher, but the number seven position remains a concern that can only be resolved by signing an Indian all-rounder.

'They can try out Pooja Vastrakar there, but if she's not going to bowl, then I don't see the point in playing her just for her batting. So, RCB will need an Indian all-rounder and a backup wicketkeeper for Richa, a role that can be filled by Sushma Verma or Uma Chetry,' Malhotra noted.

Overseas Targets: Harris and Molineux in Focus

Among overseas options, Malhotra flagged Australian pair Grace Harris and Sophie Molineux as RCB's most likely foreign targets. Harris contributed 237 runs for the franchise last season, with Malhotra describing a potential buy-back as the top item on RCB's wishlist. However, she acknowledged that the return of Ellyse Perry could push Harris down the batting order.

'Both these players will be in high demand at the auction, and RCB don't have a big purse, so they will have a tough time getting either of them,' Malhotra cautioned. If forced to choose, she said she would prefer RCB secure Molineux, who was instrumental in the franchise's maiden title win in 2024.

Mumbai Indians Under Greater Pressure

Malhotra argued that two-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI), who finished fourth last season, face considerably more scrutiny heading into the auction than RCB. She attributed MI's poor campaign primarily to the absence of a settled opening pair and a quality wicketkeeper-batter.

'You expect them to win the trophy every season. They finished at number four, and they would want to bounce back strongly. RCB will feel less pressure because they won the title, and when a team lifts the trophy, they don't mess around much with their core group of players,' she said.

WPL Season 5 Schedule

The fifth season of the Women's Premier League (WPL) is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February. With the mini auction just days away, franchises are expected to finalise their shortlists and budget allocations before proceedings begin in Kochi.