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The Women's Premier League (WPL) has become one of the biggest platforms for women's franchise cricket since its launch in 2023. Over the years, several Indian and overseas stars have attracted massive bids, with franchises spending crores to secure their services. However, one record remains untouched: Smriti Mandhana is still the most expensive player in WPL auction history.
During the inaugural WPL auction in 2023, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) spent ₹3.40 crore to sign the Indian batting superstar. Despite multiple auctions and huge player contracts since then, no cricketer has managed to break her record.
With the fifth edition's auction scheduled to take place in Kochi, all eyes will be on the players attracting the biggest bids. A total of 146 cricketers are set to enter the auction, but only 27 players can be purchased. Before the bidding begins, let's look at the five most expensive players in WPL auction history and their record-breaking contracts.
Smriti Mandhana Creates WPL Auction History With ₹3.40 Crore Record Bid
Smriti Mandhana created history during the first-ever WPL auction in 2023. RCB entered a competitive bidding battle to secure her services and eventually purchased her for ₹3.40 crore.
The massive bid made Mandhana the most expensive player in the tournament's history. Interestingly, her record has remained unbeaten for four years, despite several star players receiving multi-crore contracts in subsequent seasons.
RCB later retained Mandhana for ₹3.50 crore ahead of the 2026 season. Although her retention amount was higher than her original auction price, her ₹3.40 crore purchase remains the highest auction bid recorded in WPL history.
Who Are the Second-Most Expensive Players in WPL Auction History?
While Smriti Mandhana holds the top position, three players are jointly ranked second among the most expensive WPL auction purchases.
Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner was signed by Gujarat Giants for ₹3.20 crore in the 2023 auction. Mumbai Indians also spent the same amount to acquire England's star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt.
In the 2026 auction, Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma joined this elite group after UP Warriorz secured her services for ₹3.20 crore.
All three players share the second position, just behind Mandhana's record-breaking ₹3.40 crore bid.
New Zealand's Amelia Kerr completes the top five list. Mumbai Indians purchased the talented all-rounder for ₹3 crore in the 2026 auction.
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WPL's 5 Most Expensive Players: Check Their Auction Prices and Teams
Here is the complete list of the five highest auction bids in the Women's Premier League since its inception in 2023.
| Rank | Player | Franchise | Season | Auction Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smriti Mandhana | RCB | 2023 | ₹3.40 Crore |
| 2 | Ashleigh Gardner | Gujarat Giants | 2023 | ₹3.20 Crore |
| 2 | Nat Sciver-Brunt | Mumbai Indians | 2023 | ₹3.20 Crore |
| 2 | Deepti Sharma | UP Warriorz | 2026 | ₹3.20 Crore |
| 5 | Amelia Kerr | Mumbai Indians | 2026 | ₹3.00 Crore |
WPL 2026 Salary List: 3 Players Earned ₹3.50 Crore Each
Auction prices and retention salaries are two different things. A player can receive a higher salary through retention than the amount paid for her during an auction.
Ahead of the WPL 2026 season, three players topped the salary list with contracts worth ₹3.50 crore each.
- Smriti Mandhana: RCB retained her for ₹3.50 crore.
- Ashleigh Gardner: Gujarat Giants retained her for ₹3.50 crore.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: Mumbai Indians retained her for ₹3.50 crore.
These three players jointly became the highest-paid cricketers in WPL 2026.
Will Anyone Break Smriti Mandhana's ₹3.40 Crore WPL Auction Record?
The upcoming WPL auction could bring another round of intense bidding as franchises look to strengthen their squads with top Indian and international players.
With limited slots available, competition for experienced international stars and promising young talents is expected to be closely watched.
However, the biggest question remains whether any franchise will spend more than ₹3.40 crore on a single player. Smriti Mandhana has held the record since the inaugural auction in 2023, and it will be interesting to see whether a new name enters the top spot or the RCB star continues to dominate the WPL auction record books.
Also Read: Will Hardik Pandya Join CSK in IPL 2027? Truth Behind Jersey No 33 Video
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