WPL Auction 2027: Molineux Top Buy, Kamalini to Gujarat Giants
The early phase of the Women's Premier League 2027 auction was headlined by Australian captain Sophie Molineux, who became the most expensive buy after UP Warriorz signed her for Rs 1.10 crore on Wednesday. Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, secured young Indian wicketkeeper-batter G. Kamalini at her base price of Rs 40 lakh.
Molineux had been part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team that won the 2024 title. She did not feature in WPL 2026 and set her base price at Rs 50 lakh for this auction. UP Warriorz opened the bidding, but RCB kept pace, and the price rose to Rs 95 lakh in less than a minute.
The bidding then escalated. UP Warriorz raised it to Rs 1 crore, RCB countered with Rs 1.05 crore, and UP Warriorz settled the contest with a final bid of Rs 1.10 crore. The left-arm spin all-rounder has recently returned to international cricket after overcoming a hip injury, having played a T20 series against New Zealand.
Kamalini drew significant attention after Mumbai Indians let her go. Many believed she would attract a substantial bid. Her omission from the 2027 Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup squad, however, reduced competition for her signature. No other franchise came forward, and she moved to Gujarat Giants easily.
Despite an ordinary run with Mumbai Indians in the WPL, Kamalini has credentials that include being part of the 2025 Under-19 World Cup-winning side, as well as appearances for the senior team, India A and Tamil Nadu.
Gujarat Giants also acquired Irish seam-bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast for Rs 30 lakh.
Delhi Capitals made their first purchase by signing Indian batter Kiran Navgire for Rs 75 lakh. Mumbai Indians opened the bidding at Rs 40 lakh and took it to Rs 70 lakh, before Delhi Capitals increased it to Rs 75 lakh. Mumbai Indians were forced out of the race, as they had only Rs 90 lakh in their purse.
UP Warriorz also signed Indian off-spin all-rounder Sneh Rana and Australian aggressive all-rounder Grace Harris, both at a base price of Rs 30 lakh. Sneh Rana, a former Gujarat Giants captain who had been a replacement player with RCB, did not attract a single bid from other franchises, including Delhi Capitals, her former side.
Grace Harris is returning to UP Warriorz after an impressive season with RCB, which had released her after Ellyse Perry's comeback. In UP, she will look to stake a claim for an opening position with either Meg Lanning or Pratika Rawal.
Several others went unsold in the early rounds. Raghvi Bisht, who has played two T20 internationals for India, was the first player to be auctioned, but no team bid on her Rs 30 lakh base price. Maharashtra's aggressive middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, a member of the Indian ODI squad for the Zimbabwe series, was also left unsold, as was Ayushi Soni.
Sri Lanka's star all-rounder and captain Chamari Athapaththu also went unsold. England batter Sophia Dunkley, one of only two English players in the auction, did not get a buyer at her Rs 50 lakh base price.