WPL 2027 auction: Dunkley, Molineux top ₹50 lakh base price as 146 players enter Kochi pool
Synopsis
The WPL 2027 auction in Kochi on 28 October has a star-studded feel at the top — England's Sophia Dunkley and Australia's Sophie Molineux lead a 146-player pool at the highest base price of ₹50 lakh, with UP Warriorz holding a dominant ₹3.65 crore purse and Mumbai Indians entering on the tightest budget of just ₹1 crore.
Key Takeaways
Sophia Dunkley (England) and Sophie Molineux (Australia) have registered at the highest base price of ₹50 lakh for the WPL 2027 auction.
The auction takes place on 28 October 2026 in Kochi at 5:30 pm , with 146 players competing for 27 slots .
UP Warriorz hold the largest purse of ₹3.65 crore ; Mumbai Indians have the smallest at ₹1 crore .
119 Indian players (22 capped, 97 uncapped) are in the pool, vying for 20 slots ; 27 overseas players compete for 7 spots .
The WPL 2027 season runs from 14 January to 7 February 2027 , serving as a build-up to the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy (14–28 Feb 2027).
England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux have entered the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction at the highest base price of ₹50 lakh, as a total of 146 players prepare to go under the hammer in Kochi on 28 October 2026. The auction, set to begin at 5:30 pm at the Grand Hyatt hotel, will fill 27 available slots across all five franchises.
Key Auction Pool Details
Indian wicketkeeper-batter G. Kamalini, released by two-time winners Mumbai Indians, and batter Kiran Navgire, let go by UP Warriorz, have registered at a base price of ₹40 lakh, alongside Australian pair Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen. A further 30 players have registered at ₹30 lakh.
The 119 Indian players in the pool — comprising 22 capped and 97 uncapped — will compete for 20 slots. The overseas contingent features 27 players (14 capped, 13 uncapped) vying for the remaining seven spots. Six players from Associate nations are also included.
Franchise Purses and Slot Breakdown
UP Warriorz head into the auction with the largest available purse of ₹3.65 crore and the most slots to fill — seven, including two overseas spots. Mumbai Indians, also needing seven players, have the smallest purse at just ₹1 crore, with one overseas vacancy.
Defending champions and two-time winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ₹1.15 crore to fill five slots, including two for overseas players. Delhi Capitals, four-time runners-up, have ₹1.1 crore for five slots (one overseas), while Gujarat Giants have the fewest needs, seeking just three players with ₹1.25 crore available, including one overseas spot.
Notable Overseas Names in the Pool
Australia dominate the overseas contingent with 11 players in the pool, including Grace Harris, Tayla Vlaeminck, Tess Flintoff, Charli Knott, Samantha Bates, Maitlan Brown, Maddie Penna, and Milly Illingworth, alongside Molineux, Graham, and Jonassen — all of whom have prior WPL experience.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and young pacer Mithali Ayodya are also in the pool. South Africa are represented by Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Kayla Reyneke, and Chloe Tryon, while Ireland's seam-bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast adds further depth to the overseas field.
Scotland lead the Associate nations, with sisters Sarah and Kathryn Bryce — both WPL veterans — plus Darcey Carter and Kirstie Gordon in the fray. Netherlands captain Babette de Leede and UAE captain Esha Oza complete the Associate list.
Tournament Context and Road to the Champions Trophy
The fifth edition of the WPL is scheduled from 14 January to 7 February 2027, with venues yet to be confirmed. This cycle carries added significance: the tournament will serve as a key preparation platform ahead of the inaugural 2027 ICC Women's Champions Trophy, to be co-hosted at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, and BCA Stadium, Vadodara, from 14 February to 28 February 2027. For players on the fringe of national squads, a strong WPL auction result and performance could directly influence Champions Trophy selection conversations.
Point of View
But the real structural story is the lopsided purse distribution: UP Warriorz hold more than three times Mumbai Indians' available budget, which could tilt squad competitiveness before a ball is bowled. With the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy directly following the WPL window, franchises are effectively doubling as national team preparation camps, adding a layer of strategic complexity to every bidding decision. The inclusion of Associate-nation captains from the Netherlands and UAE is a welcome signal for the global women's game, though six slots for that entire group remains a ceiling that the league may need to raise if it is serious about broadening cricket's talent base.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the WPL 2027 player auction?
The WPL 2027 player auction is scheduled for 28 October 2026 in Kochi, beginning at 5:30 pm at the Grand Hyatt hotel. A total of 146 players will compete for 27 available slots across the five franchises.
Who are the highest base-price players in the WPL 2027 auction?
England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux have both registered at the highest base price of ₹50 lakh. Indian players G. Kamalini and Kiran Navgire, along with Australians Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen, are in the next bracket at ₹40 lakh.
Which franchise has the biggest purse for WPL 2027?
UP Warriorz hold the largest remaining purse of ₹3.65 crore and have seven slots to fill, including two for overseas players. Mumbai Indians have the smallest purse at ₹1 crore, also needing seven players but with only one overseas vacancy.
When does the WPL 2027 season begin?
The fifth edition of the WPL is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February 2027, with venues yet to be announced. It will serve as preparation ahead of the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy, held from 14 to 28 February 2027.
How many overseas and Indian players are in the WPL 2027 auction pool?
The pool includes 119 Indian players (22 capped, 97 uncapped) competing for 20 slots, and 27 overseas players (14 capped, 13 uncapped) vying for 7 spots. Six players from Associate nations are also registered.
