WPL 2027 Auction: Dunkley and Molineux Lead the Highest Base-Price List
The build-up to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction is gathering pace, with Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Molineux setting the highest reserve price among the registered players. Both have entered the auction at a base price of INR 50 lakh, while G Kamalini, Kiran Navgire, Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen are among the next most expensive names, each listed at INR 40 lakh.
The auction will take place in Kochi, Kerala, on October 28. A total of 146 players are in the pool, competing for 27 available roster places across the five franchises. With only 20 places reserved for Indian players and seven for overseas cricketers, teams will need to balance immediate squad needs with long-term planning. For fans following WPL auction news, the limited number of openings makes every signing and bidding decision especially significant.
WPL 2027 Auction Pool: Indian and Overseas Players
The registered group includes 119 Indian players and 27 overseas players. Among the Indian contingent, 22 are capped cricketers and 97 are uncapped, giving franchises a broad mix of international experience and emerging domestic talent. The overseas group includes six players from Associate Nations, adding further variety to the pool.
That spread could shape how teams approach the bidding. Capped players may offer proven experience in high-pressure matches, while uncapped prospects can provide depth and potential at a lower cost. Associate Nation players, meanwhile, may attract interest from teams looking for specialist skills or fresh options beyond the most established international names.
Base-price breakdown
After Dunkley and Molineux’s INR 50 lakh entries, six players are listed at INR 40 lakh: G Kamalini, Kiran Navgire, Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen, alongside the other players in that price bracket. A larger group of 30 cricketers has set a base price of INR 30 lakh. That list includes Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris, Chloe Tryon and Sneh Rana.
Four players have registered at INR 20 lakh, while the remaining 106 are available at INR 10 lakh. Base prices do not guarantee a player’s final auction value, but they give teams an initial guide as they assess their budgets. If several franchises target the same player, bidding can climb quickly; if a player’s role is already well covered, teams may instead prioritise a less expensive alternative.
Franchise Changes Set Up a Competitive Auction
Squad decisions made before the auction have created different levels of need across the league. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru released four players, including Grace Harris. Her presence in the auction could interest teams seeking a powerful batting option, particularly if they want added flexibility in the middle order or as a potential all-round contributor.
Gujarat Giants retained 15 players, the largest retained group among the franchises, and released four, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge. A core group of that size can offer continuity, but the team will still need to use its available places carefully to address any gaps in specialist roles.
Mumbai Indians retained 11 players and released six. Delhi Capitals kept 13 and also released six, including Lizelle Lee and Sneh Rana. Those departures add experienced players to the auction pool and may prompt teams to compare established performers with younger, lower-cost options.
UP Warriorz made the most releases, parting ways with nine players. Their departures include Deandra Dottin, Chloe Tryon and Kiran Navgire, all of whom could attract attention because of their potential to strengthen different parts of a squad. The Warriorz also traded Tara Norris to Mumbai Indians for INR 10 lakh, a move that further reshaped their pre-auction position.
UP Warriorz Hold the Biggest Purse
Following their releases and trade, UP Warriorz enter the auction with the largest remaining purse, at INR 3.75 crore. They also have the most roster places to fill, with eight slots available. That combination gives the franchise room to pursue several targets, but it also means the team must spread its spending across a larger number of signings.
Having the biggest purse does not automatically make a team the most likely to dominate the bidding. Franchises must consider both the number of vacancies and the balance of their existing squads. A side with fewer openings may be able to concentrate its funds on one or two priority players, while a team with more slots needs to preserve enough money to complete a functional roster.
What to Watch: Auction Prediction and Team Strategy
Any WPL 2027 auction prediction remains uncertain until the bidding begins, but the player pool and squad changes point to several likely areas of interest. All-rounders and versatile batters could be particularly valuable because they help teams cover multiple roles without using extra roster places. Players with experience in different batting positions or the ability to contribute with the ball may therefore draw strong competition.
Franchises will also have to decide how much to invest in established international stars compared with promising Indian players. With 20 Indian slots available across the auction, uncapped domestic cricketers could be important targets for teams seeking depth and future potential. At the same time, overseas places are limited to seven, making selection especially strategic: teams must identify which international players best complement their Indian core.
The October 28 event in Kochi will ultimately test each franchise’s preparation, budget discipline and reading of the market. With 146 players bidding for just 27 openings, not every registered cricketer will find a team. For supporters, the most compelling storylines will include whether the highest-base-price players attract intense competition, how UP Warriorz use their substantial purse, and which uncapped Indian talents emerge as surprise picks.
As the auction approaches, the combination of high-profile releases, a deep domestic contingent and tightly limited roster places promises a closely watched day for women’s cricket. The final squads will reveal which teams have prioritised experience, which have invested in emerging talent and which auction strategies could shape the WPL 2027 season.
