WPL 2027 Auction: Key Details and Highlights
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction is scheduled to take place in Kochi on October 28, as the five franchises prepare for the fifth edition of the popular women’s T20 cricket tournament. More than 146 players have been shortlisted for the auction, but only 27 player slots are available across the teams. These include 20 spots for Indian players and seven for overseas cricketers.
The auction will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kochi. The upcoming WPL season is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027. Franchises will look to strengthen their squads by signing experienced international stars and promising young players ahead of the tournament.
The auction pool includes 119 Indian players, comprising 22 capped and 97 uncapped cricketers. There are also 27 overseas players, including 14 capped and 13 uncapped players. Six players from Associate nations have also entered the auction, giving franchises additional options to consider while building their teams.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Smriti Mandhana, will enter the new season as defending champions after defeating Delhi Capitals in the previous season’s final. The other franchises will aim to build competitive squads and challenge the defending champions for the title.
Several well-known cricketers are among the players available for selection. England’s Sophia Dunkley and Australia’s Sophie Molineux have registered with a base price of ₹50 lakh. India’s G Kamalini and Kiran Navgire, along with Australia’s Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen, are listed in the ₹40 lakh category.
The auction also features 30 players in the ₹30 lakh base-price category, while 106 cricketers have registered in the ₹10 lakh category. These options will allow franchises to balance their squads according to their budgets, playing requirements and team strategies.
Experienced players such as Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, Australia’s Grace Harris and India’s Sneh Rana are also part of the auction pool. Their experience could make them valuable additions for teams looking to strengthen their batting, bowling and all-round options. At the same time, emerging domestic players will have an opportunity to earn contracts and showcase their talent on a major stage.
Cricket fans across India can watch the auction live on Star Sports television channels and follow the online broadcast through JioHotstar. With limited slots and several experienced and young players available, the auction is expected to be an important event in shaping the teams for WPL 2027.