WPL’s First Mega Auction: Deepti Sharma Fetches ₹3.2 Crore as UP Warriorz Dominate, Shikha Pandey Bags Surprise ₹2.4 Crore Deal
India’s World Cup heroes sparkle in Delhi auction; Alyssa Healy shockingly goes unsold as 277 players vie for 73 spots across five franchises
New Delhi, November 27, 2025 – The Women’s Premier League witnessed its maiden mega auction on Thursday, producing dramatic moments as India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma returned to UP Warriorz via RTM for ₹3.2 crore, making her the joint second-most expensive player in WPL history. The event, held in the national capital, saw 277 players competing for 73 available slots across five franchises.
Deepti Sharma Headlines Historic Auction
Starting from a base price of ₹50 lakh, Deepti Sharma triggered a record-breaking bidding war that saw her price soar to ₹3.2 crore as UP Warriorz used their Right To Match card following Delhi Capitals’ aggressive bid. She now stands alongside Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt as joint second-most expensive, with Smriti Mandhana’s iconic ₹3.4 crore deal from the inaugural edition remaining unbeaten at the top.
“We expected the price to go up for her. We had no doubt that we will be able to win Deepti back, and we are very delighted,” said Kshemal Waingankar, UP Warriorz’s Director of Cricket operations.
Shikha Pandey’s Stunning Comeback
In one of the auction’s biggest surprises, veteran pacer Shikha Pandey, starting at a modest base price of ₹40 lakh, became the centre of a heated contest between UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with the bid soaring past the ₹1 crore mark in minutes. UP Warriorz sealed the deal at ₹2.40 crore after RCB momentarily led at ₹2.2 crore, elevating the 36-year-old to the second-costliest Indian player of the auction.
The deal represents a remarkable turnaround for Pandey, who fetched only ₹60 lakh at the previous auction, marking a 400% increase in value.
Top Buys and Major Signings
Mumbai Indians secured New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr for ₹3 crore after a fierce bidding war with UP Warriorz that saw the price breach the ₹1.7 crore mark, making her the third-most expensive player of the evening.
UP Warriorz, armed with the biggest purse of ₹14.5 crore, went on a spending spree. They broke the ₹1 crore mark five times, securing legendary Australian batter Meg Lanning for ₹1.90 crore, young opener Phoebe Litchfield for ₹1.20 crore, and spinner Asha Sobhana for ₹1.10 crore.
Gujarat Giants made a statement by acquiring New Zealand captain Sophie Devine for ₹2 crore, quadrupling her previous salary of ₹50 lakh from the 2023 auction.
Delhi Capitals invested heavily in their middle order, signing West Indian all-rounder Chinelle Henry and Indian spinner Shreyanka Patil for ₹1.3 crore each, while South African opener Laura Wolvaardt joined for ₹1.10 crore.
Shocking Snubs and Surprises
The biggest shock came when Alyssa Healy, one of world cricket’s most celebrated captains and wicketkeeper-batters, went unsold in the marquee round. The Australian star’s failure to attract bids left the auction room stunned and set an unpredictable tone for the proceedings.
Other notable players who initially went unsold included India’s World Cup-winning wicketkeeper Uma Chetry and several capped international players.
Complete Squad Breakdown
UP Warriorz (Purse spent: Approx ₹14.5 crore): Shweta Sehrawat (retained), Deepti Sharma (₹3.2 crore RTM), Shikha Pandey (₹2.40 crore), Meg Lanning (₹1.90 crore), Phoebe Litchfield (₹1.20 crore), Asha Sobhana (₹1.10 crore), Sophie Ecclestone (₹85 lakh), Deandra Dottin (₹80 lakh), Kiran Navgire (₹60 lakh), Harleen Deol (₹50 lakh), Kranti Goud (₹50 lakh RTM), and others.
Mumbai Indians (Retained 5): Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini (retained). New additions: Amelia Kerr (₹3 crore), Shabnim Ismail (₹60 lakh), Sajeevan Sajana (₹75 lakh), Sanskriti Gupta (₹20 lakh), and others.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Retained 4): Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Ellyse Perry (retained). New buys: Grace Harris (₹75 lakh), Arundhati Reddy (₹75 lakh), Pooja Vastrakar (₹85 lakh), Radha Yadav (₹65 lakh), Lauren Bell (₹90 lakh), Georgia Voll (₹60 lakh), and others.
Delhi Capitals (Retained 5): Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad (retained). Fresh signings: Chinelle Henry (₹1.30 crore), Shree Charani (₹1.30 crore), Laura Wolvaardt (₹1.10 crore), Sneh Rana (₹50 lakh), Taniya Bhatia (₹30 lakh), and others.
Gujarat Giants (Retained 2): Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney (retained). Major purchases: Sophie Devine (₹2 crore), Georgia Wareham (₹1 crore), Kashvee Gautam (₹75 lakh RTM), Bharati Fulmali (₹70 lakh), Renuka Singh (₹60 lakh), and others.
Tournament Details
The WPL 2026 will commence on January 9, with matches played across two venues – Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium and Vadodara. The final is scheduled for February 5 at DY Patil Stadium.
The auction concluded with 73 slots filled, reshaping team dynamics significantly ahead of what promises to be the most competitive WPL season yet, riding high on India’s recent ODI World Cup triumph.
— NewsArc Bureau
