The auction floor in Kochi heats up at 5:30 PM IST Wednesday, as five WPL franchises lock horns over 27 squad slots. It’s a tight market. Only 146 players are up for grabs, with 20 spots strictly reserved for Indian talent. The stakes are high as teams finalize rosters for the league’s fifth edition.
Money talks here, but not everyone is a whale. UP Warriorz enter with the deepest pockets, holding ₹3.75 crore and needing to fill eight spots. Gujarat Giants follow with ₹1.25 crore, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals sit at ₹1.15 crore and ₹1.10 crore respectively. Mumbai Indians are the tightest, with just ₹90 lakh left to spend. That constraint will force sharp, calculated bids rather than splashy ones.
The talent pool is stacked. Defending champions RCB have Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry lined up and are hunting for Indian depth. Batters like G Kamalini, Sneh Rana, and Tejal Hasabnis are prime targets. International stars Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris, and Sophia Dunkley add global flavor. But the real buzz? 16-year-old Ira Jadhav. The uncapped Mumbai batter stunned everyone with a 346-run haul last year, and franchises will be circling.
Live coverage lands on Star Sports Network, with streaming via JioHotstar. The fifth WPL season runs from January 14 to February 7, 2027. RCB and Mumbai Indians chase more titles, while DC, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz aim for their first crown. This auction sets the tone for who rises and who fades next year.