Sophie Molineux the top buy at WPL 2027 auction

Australia captain Sophie Molineux was the top buy at the WPL 2027 player auction in Kochi, going to UP Warriorz (UPW) for INR 1.1 crore (USD 120,000 approx.). Middle-order batter Kiran Navgire was the most expensive Indian, sold to Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 75 lakh on Wednesday.

Defending champions RCB, who did not buy a single player in the first ten sets, finally bought Australia allrounder Jess Jonassen for her base price of INR 40 lakh in the accelerated round. They also added South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon for INR 30 lakh. Grace Harris, who was released by RCB ahead of the auction, was bought by her former side UPW for INR 30 lakh.

A maximum of 27 slots were available across the five teams at the start of the auction and 25 were filled - only RCB and DC had one slot remaining. It was no surprise that UPW, who had eight slots to fill after releasing nine players and INR 3.75 crore to spend, bought the most players and filled all eight slots.

India wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, who played for Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2025 and 2026 after being bought for INR 1.60 crore, went to Gujarat Giants (GG) for her base price of INR 40 lakh. GG also bought Ireland allrounder Orla Prendergast, who is set for her maiden WPL stint, for INR 30 lakh and 16-year old uncapped allrounder Samaira Raghav for INR 10 lakh.

Fifteen-year old Karnataka allrounder Uma Kashvi became the youngest player sold at an WPL auction when DC bought her for INR 10 lakh.

UPW, who started the auction with the largest purse of INR 3.75 crore, had to stave off competition for Molineux from her former team Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who dropped out of the bid at INR 1.05 crore. RCB headed into the auction with a purse of INR 1.15 crore. Molineux, who led Australia to their seventh T20 World Cup title in July, is also their highest wicket-taker this year.

UPW's COO and director of cricket Kshemal Waingankar said Molineux and Harris provide flexibility to the side.

"[We were going to get Molineux] at any cost," Waingankar said. "That puts us in a good position with Sophie and Grace combined to tweak our combinations and decide what works best. Grace brings power to the middle order, Sophie Molineux obviously leadership qualities, an exceptional bowler and fantastic with the team in general. Our thought was her and Sophie Ecclestone together would be a lethal force, and with Grace we have the option of switching and seeing how things go work."

Harris, who was Smriti Mandhana's opening partner and RCB's second-highest run-getter last season, played for UPW in the first three seasons in the middle order. "I would agree, yes [that Grace was a steal for 30 lakh]," he added. It's good to have her back. Our first season we had her, 17 balls 51 runs needed, she won us the game, she set WPL alight. We were on the other end of the stick last year with her [at RCB]. But she's someone we're very happy to bring back."

UPW also added India allrounder Sneh Rana and wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma at their base prices of INR 30 lakh. It will be Rana's fourth team in the WPL, after playing for RCB, GG and DC in the first four seasons.

"[The UP Warriorz spin attack] is very strong," Rana told Jiostar. "And Deepti Sharma will be with me, with whom I have been playing for a long time. So I know their strengths, so we will keep talking to each other. And it's going to be a lot of fun. I am very excited [to play under Meg Lanning]. I have always seen her on TV. And even now when she leads UP, it looks very good. Seeing her captaincy, seeing her changes, it looks very good. So I am very excited to play under her."

MI, who had the lowest purse of INR 90 lakh heading into the auction, bought six uncapped players - Shweta Sehrawat, Akshita Bhagat, Disha Kasat, Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal and Sanika Chalke. Twelve out of the 25 players sold at this auction were uncapped.

England batter Sophia Dunkley, who had listed herself at the highest base price of INR 50 lakh, went unsold and so did Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu who had a base price of INR 30 lakh.

UPW also added Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce to their team for INR 10 lakh, while her national team-mate Kirstie Gordan went to DC for INR 10 lakh. Since Scotland are an Associate nation, teams will be allowed to field them as a fifth overseas player in the XI.

Delhi Capitals: Kiran Navgire (INR 75 lakh), Uma Kashvi (INR 10 lakh), Kirstie Gordon (INR 10 lakh), Nazma Khan (INR 10 lakh)
Gujarat Giants: G Kamalini (INR 40 lakh), Orla Prendergast (INR 30 lakh), Samaira Raghav (10 lakh)
Mumbai Indians: Disha Kasat (INR 10 lakh), Latika Inamdar (INR 10 lakh), Bharti Rawal (INR 10 lakh), Sanika Chalke (INR 10 lakh), Shweta Sehrawat (INR 20 lakh), Akshita Bhagat (INR 10 lakh)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jess Jonassen (INR 40 lakh), Tejal Hasabnis (INR 30 lakh), Vrinda Dinesh (INR 10 lakh), Chloe Tryon (INR 30 lakh) UP Warriorz: Sophie Molineux (INR 1.10 crore), Sneh Rana (INR 30 lakh), Grace Harris (INR 30 lakh), Sushma Verma (INR 30 lakh), Kathryn Bryce (INR 10 lakh), Manali Dakshini (INR 10 lakh), Sahana Pawar (INR 10 lakh), S Asha (INR 30 lakh)