Women’s cricket witnessed its most lucrative day yet as India’s World Cup triumph fuelled a money-soaked bidding war at the WPL 2026 mega auction in New Delhi. Franchise purses opened wide for the tournament’s biggest performers, marking a major step in the sport’s commercial leap.
Deepti Sharma Becomes Day’s Biggest Headline
World Cup Player of the Tournament Deepti Sharma emerged as the joint second-most expensive buy in WPL history after UP Warriorz used their Right to Match to reclaim her for INR 3.2 crore (USD 358,098). Moments earlier, Delhi Capitals were poised to secure her for just INR 50 lakh, before UPW swooped in to break the bank.
DC, meanwhile, spent aggressively themselves, securing N. Sree Charani for INR 1.3 crore (USD 145,479) and adding the experienced Sneh Rana for INR 50 lakh. One of the most anticipated overseas names, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, joined their ranks for INR 1.1 crore (USD 123,099).
Up Warriorz Splash Big On Shikha Pandey, Litchfield And Youth
UPW were among the day’s most active bidders. They nabbed veteran seamer Shikha Pandey for a substantial INR 2.4 crore (USD 268,583) and added rising Australian batter Phoebe Litchfield for INR 1.2 crore (USD 134,293).
They also secured young pacer Kranti Gaud, batter Harleen Deol, and opener Pratika Rawal at INR 50 lakh each, while making a statement by bringing back experienced leg-spinner Asha Sobhana for INR 1.1 crore (USD 123,098).
RCB Build Depth With 12 Signings
Royal Challengers Bengaluru took a volume-driven approach, signing twelve players. Their overseas recruits included England quick Lauren Bell (INR 90 lakh), Australia’s dynamic Grace Harris (INR 75 lakh), South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk (INR 65 lakh), and top-order batter Georgia Voll (INR 60 lakh).
Indian additions featured Pooja Vastrakar (INR 85 lakh), Arundhati Reddy (INR 75 lakh), and Radha Yadav (INR 65 lakh). RCB also added Linsey Smith and Dayalan Hemalatha at INR 30 lakh each. They exercised RTM for Prema Rawat for INR 20 lakh, and rounded off the roster with Gautami Naik and Prathyoosha Kumar for INR 10 lakh apiece.
Mumbai Secure Amelia Kerr In Major Retention
Mumbai Indians made one of the most important acquisitions of the day by regaining New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr for INR 3 crore (USD 335,730). They brought back Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, S Sajana and Sanskriti Gupta, ensuring continuity from previous seasons while adding new domestic names to strengthen their squad.
Devine Returns Strong; Healy Goes Unsold In Rare Twist
A surprise moment arrived when Australia captain Alyssa Healy went unsold. However, compatriot Sophie Devine made a triumphant return to the WPL, snapped up by Gujarat Giants for INR 2 crore (USD 223,805) after a fierce bidding battle involving RCB and DC. Several uncapped players found no takers, though Delhi Capitals turned heads by picking 16-year-old Deeya Yadav for INR 10 lakh.
Full Squads – WPL 2026
Delhi Capitals: Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Shree Charani, Chinelle Henry, Laura Wolvaardt, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia, Lizelle Lee, Deeya Yadav, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandani Sharma, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Renuka Singh, Yastika Bhatia, Anushka Sharma, Tanuja Kanwar, Kanika Ahuja, Titas Sadhu, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Shivani Singh, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni
Mumbai Indians: Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, Shabnim Ismail, Gunalan Kullkarni, Nicola Carey, Sanskriti Gupta, Rahil Firdous, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Lauren Bell, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, Dayalan Hemalatha
UP Warriorz: Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Asha Sobhana, Sophie Ecclestone, Deandra Dottin, Kiran Navgire, Kranti Gaud, Shweta Sehrawat, Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, Simran Shaikh, G Trisha, Pratika Rawal.
