Australia’s Sophie Molineux became the most expensive buy at the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi, joining UP Warriorz for Rs 1.10 crore, while Delhi Capitals paid Rs 75 lakh for Kiran Navgire as the five franchises filled 25 of the 27 available slots.
Kochi, India: It was a mini-auction with a small pool and a tight purse, and it produced one clear headline. Big bids were rare at the Grand Hyatt on Wednesday evening, where 146 registered players competed for 27 open places, 20 of them for Indian players and seven for overseas players. Twenty-five were sold, with a total spend of about Rs 6.25 crore.
Molineux sets the price
Molineux, who carried a base price of Rs 50 lakh, went to UP Warriorz for Rs 1.10 crore, more than double her reserve and the highest price of the night. The Australian all-rounder, who took 3 for 14 for Southern Brave in The Hundred Women this summer, was the only player to cross the one-crore mark.
Navgire leads the Indians
Kiran Navgire was the most expensive Indian signing, going to Delhi Capitals for Rs 75 lakh. G Kamalini went to Gujarat Giants at her Rs 40 lakh base price, and Australia’s Jess Jonassen also fetched Rs 40 lakh from Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Rs 30 lakh bought a cluster of experienced names. UP Warriorz added Grace Harris, Sneh Rana, Sushma Verma and Asha Sobhana Joy at that price, Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed Chloe Tryon and Tejal Hasabnis, and Gujarat Giants took Ireland’s Orla Prendergast.
How the franchises spent
UP Warriorz were the busiest buyers, signing eight players for about Rs 2.60 crore. Mumbai Indians added six uncapped Indian players for about Rs 70 lakh, headed by Shweta Sehrawat. Royal Challengers Bengaluru spent about Rs 1.10 crore on four players, Delhi Capitals about Rs 1.05 crore on four, and Gujarat Giants about Rs 80 lakh on three.
The names left behind
Several established players went unsold, among them England’s Sophia Dunkley, who shared Molineux’s Rs 50 lakh base price, and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu. India’s Taniya Bhatia, Saika Ishaque, Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu, Devika Vaidya and Nuzhat Parween also found no buyer.
Top buys, WPL 2027 auction (Kochi, 28 October 2026):
Sophie Molineux (AUS) – UP Warriorz – Rs 1.10 crore
Kiran Navgire (IND) – Delhi Capitals – Rs 75 lakh
G Kamalini (IND) – Gujarat Giants – Rs 40 lakh
Jess Jonassen (AUS) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Rs 40 lakh
Orla Prendergast (IRE) – Gujarat Giants – Rs 30 lakh
Chloe Tryon (RSA) – Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Rs 30 lakh
Players sold by franchise: UP Warriorz 8, Mumbai Indians 6, Royal Challengers Bengaluru 4, Delhi Capitals 4, Gujarat Giants 3.
