The first ever mega auction of Women’s Premiere League WPL in India came packed with fierce clashes between franchises for key players, high stakes bidding wars and some truly big purchases as all 5 teams battled to secure the best talent ahead of the new season.
A key contributor to India’s recent World Cup win, all-rounder Deepti Sharma emerged as the most expensive buy of the auction, commanding an incredible ₹3.2 crore from the Up Warriorz. Bidding for Sharma opened at 50 lakhs and went to 3.2 crore following an intense negotiation between Delhi Capitals and UP warriors.
Surprises delivered in the marquee round
Everyone at the auction was initially taken by surprise when Sourav Ganguly led Delhi Capitals made the sole bid for the world cup winner. However, just as the auctioneer was about to bang the gavel UP warriorz came in clutch and racked up Deepti Sharma for Rs 3.2 crore using their first Right-to-Match (RTM) card.
Deepti’s signing set the tone for a thrilling auction where several seasoned marquee players and young stars triggered intense competition among the 5 available clubs. In another surprising moment to come out of the initial marquee round, 8 time World Cup champion Aleysa Healy went unsold at the auctions today. Healy had missed last year’s season due to an injury.
Most expensive signings
The auction today saw a pool of 276 players, with 194 from India and 82 from overseas. There were 73 available slots across the five franchises, with 23 for overseas players. Following the conclusion of the 2026 WPL auction, the 5 most expensive signings of the day have been listed as follows:
Deepti Sharma (Rs 3.2 Crore)
Living up to analyst speculations, player of the tournament of the recently concluded women’s world cup, Deepti Sharma emerged as the most expensive player of the WPL 2026 Auction today. Sharma was acquired by her previous team UP warriorz for an amount of 3.2 crore making her the second most expensive player in WPL history after Smriti Mandhana.
The franchise used their first ever right to match card to bring Sharma back into the team. Her consistent all-round performances, composed temperament, and ability to influence every phase of the game made her the most sought-after Indian star this year.
Amelia Kerr (Rs 3 Crore)
New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr was the top overseas buy, going for an impressive ₹3 crore for Mumbai Indians. Nita Ambani led Mumbai Indians was quick to re-buy many of their previous players today. Known for her versatility, the leg-spinning all-rounder served as the leading wicket taker for Mumbai Indians last season.
Shikha Pandey (Rs 2.4 Crore)
The only entry in this list whose auction was done in the accelerated round of the event today, Shikha Pandey’s auction saw a major bidding war between UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As a result of this clash between clubs, Pandey’s asking price soared from 40 lakhs to 2.4 crores towards the end of the auction. The domestic cricket magnate who hasn’t played internationals for three years now finally went to UPW for a price of 2.4 crores.
Sophie Devine (Rs 2 Crore)
Sophie Devine fetched a strong ₹2 crore deal from Gujarat Giants, reaffirming her status as one of the most impactful power hitters in women’s cricket. Known for her aggressive batting, leadership experience, and handy medium-pace bowling, Devine adds significant balance to any squad. Bidding for Devine opened at 50 lakhs and went to 2 crore following an intense battle between Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals
Meg Lanning (Rs 1.9 Crore)
Australian captain Meg Lanning drew a ₹1.9 crore bid from UP Warriorz. Lanning’s entry marks the third made by UPW to be featured in this list today. Lanning’s excellent leadership, tactical understanding, and consistent batting anchored her value. Lanning’s auction saw an intense power battle between her previous team Delhi capitals and UPW which saw her asking price soar from 50 lakhs to 2 crore.
