WPL 2027 auction: Kamalini fully available, four players added to 150-name pool
Synopsis
With Kamalini's U-19 World Cup exit clearing her for WPL 2027 and four late additions raising the pool to 150, Wednesday's Kochi auction is shaping up as a decisive squad-building exercise — especially for bottom-placed UP Warriorz, who carry the largest purse of ₹3.75 crore and eight slots to fill under Meg Lanning.
Key Takeaways
Kamalini is fully available for WPL 2027 after being ruled out of the U-19 Women's T20 World Cup ; her base price is set at ₹40 lakh .
Four players — Medhavi Bidhuri , Samaira Raghav , Bree Illing , and Avanya Jain — were added late, taking the auction pool to 150 players .
The WPL 2027 auction begins at 5:30 pm in Kochi on Wednesday, with 27 slots to be filled across five franchises.
UP Warriorz hold the largest available purse at ₹3.75 crore with eight slots to fill; Mumbai Indians have the tightest budget at ₹90 lakh for six Indian slots.
Jess Jonassen 's neck injury and Ira Jadhav 's potential U-19 World Cup selection add uncertainty to two of the most-watched names in the pool.
India wicketkeeper-batter G. Kamalini is fully available for the entire Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 season, sources confirmed on Tuesday, 27 October, as four new names were added to the auction pool at the request of the five franchises — taking the total player count to 150. The auction is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm in Kochi on Wednesday.
Kamalini's Availability Confirmed
Kamalini's participation in WPL 2027 had been in doubt due to her possible inclusion in India's squad for the Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup, which directly overlaps with the tournament's fifth season running from 14 January to 7 February. However, it has since been confirmed she will not feature in the U-19 World Cup, clearing the path for her full WPL availability.
Mumbai Indians, two-time WPL champions, had released Kamalini — whose previous contract was worth ₹1.1 crore — during last month's retention deadline. With a base price now set at ₹40 lakh and 27 slots to be filled across five teams, the wicketkeeper-batter is expected to attract strong bidding, particularly given the premium demand for keeping-batting options at auction.
Four New Names Added to Pool
The late additions to the pool are Delhi all-rounders Medhavi Bidhuri and Samaira Raghav, New Zealand pacer Bree Illing, and Uttar Pradesh bowler Avanya Jain. According to sources, all five franchises were briefed about both the additions and Kamalini's availability during the auction briefing held on Tuesday.
Notably, leg-spinner Medhavi Bidhuri went viral for her '6-7' celebration during the Delhi Premier League women's competition. Samaira Raghav's inclusion is reportedly linked to a strong outing in the U-19 Women's T20 Trophy and a believed selection for the U-19 Women's T20 Challengers tournament.
Team-wise Purses and Slots
UP Warriorz, who finished last in 2026 and have never reached a WPL final across four seasons, enter Wednesday's auction with the largest available purse of ₹3.75 crore, with eight slots to fill — five Indian and three overseas. The Meg Lanning-led side has the most room to reshape their squad.
Gujarat Giants have ₹1.25 crore to fill three slots, including one overseas spot. Defending champions and two-time winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold ₹1.15 crore for five slots — two overseas. Delhi Capitals, four-time runners-up, have ₹1.10 crore available for five slots with one overseas pick. Mumbai Indians carry the tightest purse at ₹90 lakh to fill six Indian player slots.
Key Names to Watch at Auction
Among the marquee overseas names, Australia's T20 World Cup-winning captain Sophie Molineux has set her base price at ₹50 lakh. Jess Jonassen, who missed the 2026 season with a shoulder injury, is another high-profile option — though she is currently sidelined with a neck injury that has ruled her out of the upcoming WBBL. Her return is expected in the new year, which may give some franchises pause given the proximity to WPL's January start.
Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce is likely to attract multi-team interest. Domestic talents including off-spin bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana, uncapped batters Vrinda Dinesh, Gongadi Trisha, Saanika Chalke, and Mumbai's 15-year-old batting sensation Ira Jadhav are also expected to generate competitive bidding. However, Ira's own availability could be in question if she is selected for India's U-19 Women's T20 World Cup squad.
The auction opens with a full round of capped players, followed by uncapped players, with accelerated rounds potentially kicking in after the 50th player. All eyes will be on whether last-placed UP Warriorz can use their financial advantage to mount a title challenge in 2027.
Point of View
Meaning any serious bidder gets significant value. The real story, however, is UP Warriorz: four seasons without a final appearance, the biggest purse in the room, and a Meg Lanning pedigree that demands results. If they cannot convert ₹3.75 crore into a finals berth in 2027, questions about the franchise's curation and coaching philosophy will be hard to avoid. The late additions of domestic players like Samaira Raghav also signal that franchise scouts are casting a wider net — a healthy sign for the depth of women's cricket in India.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is G. Kamalini's availability significant for WPL 2027?
Kamalini's participation was previously uncertain because she was believed to be in contention for India's U-19 Women's T20 World Cup squad, which clashes with WPL 2027's schedule of 14 January to 7 February. Her confirmed absence from the U-19 tournament means she is free for the full WPL season, and with a base price of ₹40 lakh — down from her previous ₹1.1 crore contract — she is expected to attract strong bidding.
Who are the four new players added to the WPL 2027 auction pool?
The four late additions are Delhi all-rounders Medhavi Bidhuri and Samaira Raghav, New Zealand pacer Bree Illing, and Uttar Pradesh bowler Avanya Jain. Their inclusion, made at the request of the five franchises, takes the total auction pool to 150 players.
Which WPL 2027 team has the most money to spend at the auction?
UP Warriorz have the largest available purse at ₹3.75 crore, with eight slots to fill — five Indian and three overseas. The Meg Lanning-led franchise finished last in the 2026 season and has never reached a WPL final across four seasons.
When and where is the WPL 2027 auction taking place?
The WPL 2027 auction is being held in Kochi on Wednesday, starting at 5:30 pm. It will open with a full round of capped players, followed by a round of uncapped players, with accelerated rounds potentially beginning after the 50th player.
Which big overseas names are in the WPL 2027 auction pool?
Australia's T20 World Cup-winning captain Sophie Molineux has listed herself at a base price of ₹50 lakh, while Jess Jonassen — who missed 2026 with a shoulder injury — is back in the pool despite a current neck injury that has ruled her out of the WBBL. Scotland wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Bryce is another overseas name expected to draw multi-franchise interest.
