Excitement is building ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, as all five franchises prepare to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season. With a host of talented Indian and overseas cricketers available, intense bidding is expected as teams look to fill the vacant spots in their rosters. The WPL 2027 mini-auction is scheduled to take place on October 28, 2026, in Kochi. According to the latest reports, 146 players have been shortlisted for the auction; however, the five franchises combined can add only 27 players to their squads. This means that the teams will need to make very careful decisions when spending their remaining budget.
WPL 2027 Auction Remaining Purse of All Teams
| Team | Remaining Purse | Available Slots | Overseas Slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| UP Warriorz | ₹3.75 crore | 8 | 3 |
| Gujarat Giants | ₹1.25 crore | 3 | 1 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹1.15 crore | 5 | 2 |
| Delhi Capitals | ₹1.10 crore | 5 | 1 |
| Mumbai Indians | ₹90 lakh | 6 | 0 |
| Total | ₹8.15 crore | 27 | 7 |
5. Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians will enter the WPL 2027 auction with a budget of ₹90 lakh the lowest among the five franchises. According to data released ahead of the auction, the team has six vacant slots, but no room to add any overseas players. Mumbai has retained experienced players such as Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, and Shabnim Ismail. The squad also includes Amanjot Kaur, Sajana Sajeevan, Sanskruti Gupta, Rahila Firdous, and Vaishnavi Sharma.
The retained players possess significant international experience, providing the team with a strong foundation in batting, bowling, and all-round capabilities. However, the franchise will need to be very strategic in how it utilizes its remaining budget to fill the six vacant slots. Given the limited funds, Mumbai must focus on cost-effective players who can enhance the team's strength. It will be crucial to ensure that too much money is not spent on a single player, as doing so would leave insufficient funds to fill the remaining spots.
With no slots available for overseas players, Mumbai has no options in the international market; therefore, the franchise must focus exclusively on Indian players to fill the remaining vacancies. Although Mumbai has the smallest budget, the presence of a strong core of retained players means the team does not require a complete overhaul. Rather than rebuilding the entire squad, their focus in this auction will be on selecting specific players who can integrate well into the existing team setup.
4. Delhi Capitals
Ahead of the WPL 2027 auction, Delhi Capitals will have a purse of ₹1.10 crore. The franchise needs to fill five vacant spots in its squad, one of which is reserved for an overseas player. Delhi has retained several established players, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, and Laura Wolvaardt. Other retained players include Chinelle Henry, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani, Nikki Prasad, and Shri Charani.
While the team already possesses excellent batters and all-rounders, the auction offers Delhi an opportunity to bolster its squad depth. As they prepare for the upcoming WPL season, it will be crucial for the team to fill the vacant slots with players capable of delivering consistent performances. Like RCB, Delhi also has five vacant spots, though their budget is slightly smaller; therefore, effective budget management will be vital for the Capitals.
After assessing their current squad, the franchise might prioritize adding a reliable wicketkeeper, an additional batter, or a specialist bowler. With only one spot remaining for an overseas player, Delhi will need to make a very careful decision if they wish to bring in an international player. Delhi Capitals has been one of the most competitive teams in the league, and this auction provides them with the chance to build a squad capable of mounting a strong challenge for the title.
3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
For the WPL 2027 auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will have a purse of ₹1.15 crore. There are five vacant spots in the squad, two of which are reserved for overseas players, offering the team significant flexibility to select talent from both India and abroad. RCB’s core retained squad includes captain Smriti Mandhana, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Wareham, and Nadine de Klerk. Additionally, the squad features players such as Lauren Bell, Radha Yadav, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, and Prema Rawat.
The team possesses a strong balance of batting, spin bowling, pace bowling, and all-round capabilities. Nevertheless, this auction presents an excellent opportunity for RCB to further strengthen their squad and address any remaining gaps. With a purse of only ₹1.15 crore, the franchise must carefully evaluate the base prices of players and the potential competition they might face during the bidding process. Getting drawn into a bidding war for a high-priced player could limit their options for filling the remaining vacant spots. If the team aims to bolster its overseas contingent, the two available overseas slots will be crucial; however, their primary focus should remain on building a well-balanced squad rather than simply chasing big-name players.
2. Gujarat Giants
Gujarat Giants will enter the WPL 2027 auction with a budget of ₹1.25 crore. With only three vacant spots in the squad, the franchise has the opportunity to focus on specific requirements rather than rebuilding the entire team. The Giants have retained key players such as Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Devine, and Georgia Wareham. Their core group includes experienced international batters and all-rounders, providing the team with a variety of options in both batting and bowling.
Other retained players include Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Kashvee Gautam, and Kim Garth. This group offers Gujarat a strong balance across batting, wicketkeeping, and bowling. To fill the three remaining spots, the franchise could target players with specialized skills or reliable backups. Depending on the opportunities that arise during the auction, the team may look to further strengthen its batting lineup or add greater depth to its bowling attack.
1. UP Warriorz
UP Warriorz will be in the strongest financial position heading into the WPL 2027 auction. With a remaining purse of ₹3.75 crore and eight vacant spots in their squad, the franchise enjoys greater flexibility compared to other teams. The Warriorz have retained several key players, including Deepti Sharma, Meg Lanning, Sophie Ecclestone, Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, and Pratika Rawal. This core group provides a solid foundation, offering international experience, a robust batting lineup, and a potent bowling attack.
However, the franchise will need to exercise caution when utilizing its available budget. Since they need to add eight more players to their squad, UP Warriorz may need to distribute their funds across various categories rather than spending their entire budget on a single marquee player. There are also vacant slots for overseas players, which can be used to bring in international talent capable of enhancing the balance of the playing XI. Experienced all-rounders, power hitters, wicketkeeping options, and additional bowling resources are some of the key areas that require special attention.
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