Star Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who ended up being the auction’s most expensive purchase, made the most headlines of the day.
In Delhi, the inaugural WPL (Women’s Premier League) mega auction came to an end, with all five teams assembling a team strong enough to win WPL 2026. A total of 276 players went under the hammer, out of which 67 players found buyers.
The WPL 2026 Auction Highlights, Highest Bids & Top Player Acquisitions, and team strategies are all covered in this article.
WPL 2026 Auction Highest: Bids & Top Player Acquisitions
Teams paid a total of Rs. 40.80 crore to sign 67 players during the auction. Whereas in the first WPL auction for the 2023 season, back teams paid Rs. 59.50 crore to sign 87 players.
In this table, we will examine the top purchases from the WPL 2026 Auction, including their teams, roles, and the prices at which they were bought.
| Rank | Player | Team | Role | Bid / Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deepti Sharma | UP Warriorz | All‑rounder — top Indian buy | ₹ 3.20 crore |
| 2 | Amelia Kerr | Mumbai Indians | Overseas all‑rounder — top overseas buy | ₹ 3.00 crore |
| 3 | Shikha Pandey | UP Warriorz | Experienced Indian all‑rounder | ₹ 2.40 crore |
| 4 | Sophie Devine | Gujarat Giants | Overseas all‑rounder / power hitter | ₹ 2.00 crore |
| 5 | Meg Lanning | UP Warriorz | Top‑order batter / experienced T20 leader | ₹ 1.90 crore |
When Sourav Ganguly’s Delhi Capitals made the only bid for the World Cup winner, everyone at the auction was surprised.
1. Deepti Sharma
When UP Warriorz used their “Right to Match” card to keep Deepti Sharma at ₹3.20 crore, she became the most expensive acquisition of the WPL 2026 Auction and also a high-value all-rounder.
Her recent performance and versatility contribute to her high price. She was one of India’s best players in the 2025 Women’s World Cup. This bid shows that top all-rounders with match-winning potential command high prices in contemporary T20.
2. Amelia Kerr
Amelia Kerr became the highest-paid overseas player at the auction when she was acquired by the defending champions, Mumbai Indians Women, for ₹3.00 crore. Her acquisition shows the high regard franchises have for versatile overseas players.
Kerr’s consistent T20 credentials, her effective spin bowling, dynamic batting, and strong performances in international leagues justify her premium price. She has performed in a variety of ways.
3. Shikha Pandey
Shikha Pandey’s high bid of ₹2.40 crore reflects her value as an experienced and versatile all-rounder, even though she hasn’t played for the national team much lately. Pandey sees this as a vote of confidence, and the team views it as a calculated investment in squad depth.
Her addition provides UP Warriorz with depth in batting and bowling (pace), which is essential in a league where match circumstances change quickly. The bid shows that franchises still place equal value on domestic experience and flexibility as they do on raw overseas talent.
4. Sophie Devine
Sophie Devine was acquired by the Gujarat Giants Women for ₹2.00 crore, showing their aggressive pursuit of explosive batting and all-around match impact. Devine’s reputation comes before her as she is renowned for her ability to alter momentum in T20 matches.
She is a perfect fit for a team looking to improve all-around depth and batting strength. The offer shows faith in her ability to win matches on her own, a quality that many teams look for to overcome inconsistency in T20 leagues.
5. Meg Lanning
Former Australia captain Meg Lanning received ₹1.90 crore from UP Warriorz, indicating respect for her experience and top-order batting class. Lanning’s pricing aligns with her background and the importance of leadership and T20 setup expertise.
Her acquisition makes sense for several reasons, including her track record of success in high-stress matches, her capacity to anchor innings, and her leadership abilities that can influence team dynamics. Offers guidance for younger players and stability at the top.
WPL 2026 Auction: Team‑Wise Summary
Teams prioritized versatile all-rounders to strengthen both batting and bowling, reflecting modern T20 strategies.
This table provides a team-wise summary of the WPL 2026 Auction, showing key player acquisitions and each franchise’s strategy below:
| Team | Some Key Buys (Auction) |
|---|---|
| UP Warriorz (UPW) | Deepti Sharma (RTM 3.2 Cr), Sophie Ecclestone (RTM 85 Lakh), Meg Lanning (1.9 Cr), Phoebe Litchfield (1.2 Cr), Kiran Navgire (RTM 60 Lakh), Harleen Deol (50 Lakh), Kranti Goud (RTM 50 Lakh), Asha Sobhana (1.1 Cr), Deandra Dottin (80 Lakh), Shikha Pandey (2.4 Crore), Shipra Giri (10 Lakh), Simran Shaikh (10 Lakh), Tara Norris (10 Lakh), Chloe Tryon (30 Lakh), Suman Meena (10 Lakh), G Trisha (10 Lakh), Pratika Rawal (50 Lakh) |
| Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) | Amelia Kerr (3 Cr), Shabnim Ismail (60 Lakh), Sanskriti Gupta (20 Lakh), Sajeewan Sajana (75 Lakh), Rahila Firdous (10 Lakh), Nicola Carey (30 Lakh), Poonam Khemnar (10 Lakh), Triveni Vasistha (20 Lakh), Nalla Reddy (10 Lakh), Saika Ishaque (30 Lakh), Milly Illingworth (10 Lakh) |
| Gujarat Giants Women (GGW) | Sophie Devine (2 Cr), Renuka Singh (60 Lakh), Bharti Fulmali (RTM 70 Lakh), Titas Sadhu (30 Lakh), Kashvee Gautam (RTM 65 Lakh), Kanika Ahuja (30 Lakh), Tanuja Kanwar (45 Lakh), Georgia Wareham (1 Cr), Anushka Sharma (45 Lakh), Happy Kumari (10 Lakh), Kim Garth (50 Lakh), Yastika Bhatia (50 Lakh), Shivani Singh (10 Lakh), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (50 Lakh), Rajeshwari Gayakwad (40 Lakh), Ayushi Soni (30 Lakh) |
| Delhi Capitals Women (DCW) | Laura Wolvaardt (1.1 Cr), Chinnelle Henry (1 Cr), Sree Charani (1.3 Cr), Sneh Rana (50 Lakh), Lizelle Lee (30 Lakh), Deeya Yadav (10 Lakh), Taniya Bhatia (30 Lakh), Mamatha Madiwala (10 Lakh), Nandani Sharma (20 Lakh), Lucy Hamilton (10 Lakh), Minnu Mani (40 Lakh) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) | Georgia Voll (60 Lakh), Nadine de Klerk (65 Lakh), Radha Yadav (65 Lakh), Lauren Bell (90 Lakh), Linsey Smith (30 Lakh), Prema Rawat (RTM 20 Lakh), Arundhati Reddy (75 Lakh), Pooja Vastrakar (85 Lakh), Grace Harris (75 Lakh), Gautami Naik (10 Lakh), Prathyousha Kumar (10 Lakh), D Hemalatha (30 Lakh) |
Franchises focused more on current form than reputation and made smart use of RTM cards.
UP Warriorz
With the most significant spend of ₹8–9 crore, including the use of a Right-to-Match (RTM) card, UP Warriorz dominated the WPL 2026 auction. Deepti Sharma was their star acquisition, costing ₹3.20 crore, making her the most expensive purchase of the auction.
Alongside her, the team benefits from the experience of Meg Lanning (₹1.90cr) and Phoebe Litchfield (₹1.20cr). To ensure squad depth across positions, UP Warriorz also invested in domestic talent. Their auction strategy prioritizes a well-rounded team.
Mumbai Indians Women
The Mumbai Indians Women focused on both domestic support and top-tier international signings ahead of the WPL 2026 auction. Amelia Kerr was their most expensive overseas purchase, costing ₹3.00 crore.
Additionally, they hired pace expert Shabnim Ismail. To ensure squad depth, MIW added young domestic talent to these star players. To achieve consistency, their auction strategy emphasizes equal amounts of youth and experience.
Gujarat Giants Women
During the WPL 2026 auction, Gujarat Giants Women prioritized balanced squad depth and explosive foreign talent. Sophie Devine, a well-known all-rounder who can change the match. Their most significant acquisition was for ₹2.00 crore.
To increase squad flexibility, they also made investments in several foreign players and domestic all-rounders. They used a combination of cost-effective and high-impact acquisitions in their auction strategy to build a team that could adjust to a variety of situations.
Delhi Capitals Women
In the WPL 2026 auction, Delhi Capitals Women took a calculated and planned approach, spending roughly ₹4–5 crore on essential purchases. Chinelle Henry and Shree Charani, who each cost ₹1.30 crore, and Laura Wolvaardt, who cost ₹1.10 crore, were their top purchases.
The strategy emphasizes squad balance and adaptability, prioritizing value purchases over splurging on big names. This strategy ensures a well-rounded team with depth, adaptability, and the ability to make strategic decisions in every situation.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Building squad depth and flexibility was the primary focus of Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s cautious, economical approach to the WPL 2026 auction. Lauren Bell (₹0.90 crore), their most significant acquisition, adds international experience to the bowling department.
The team’s strategy emphasizes flexibility and team balance. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s careful combination of international stars and reliable domestic performers puts them in a strong position, even though they did not make the biggest splashes in the auction.
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Conclusion – Deepti Sharma’s Signing For ₹3.20 Crore Was The Biggest Highlight Of The WPL 2026 Auction
Using their Right to Match (RTM) card, UP Warriorz signed Deepti Sharma for ₹3.20 crore, just ₹20 lakh less than Smriti Mandhana’s record contract, making her the second-highest-paid Indian in WPL history.
After shining on the global stage, Shree Charani and Laura Wolvaardt also took home impressive price tags.
There was a lot of drama, expensive signings, and some surprising twists at the end of the WPL 2026 mega auction.
FAQs
The auction took place in November 2025 before the 2026 season.
Deepti Sharma was the most expensive player at ₹ 3.20 crore.
UP Warriorz were the highest spenders, using around ₹ 8–9 crore.
Kerr (MIW) and Sophie Devine (GGW) were the biggest overseas buys.
Teams combined marquee players with domestic talent for depth and versatility.
