Deepti Sharma, Meg lanning and…leads the list of top players who broke the bank News24 –
WPL 2025 Auction: The 2026 Women’s Premier League auction turned into a full-blown money fest, with franchises spending aggressively to lock in top-tier talent. While several big names triggered intense bidding wars, the biggest surprise of the evening was that no team showed interest in superstar wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy. On the other hand, Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma walked away as the most expensive player of the auction.
Here’s a breakdown of the top players who drew the biggest cheques on a high-voltage auction night:
Deepti Sharma: Rs 3.2 crore (UP Warriorz)
Deepti Sharma returned to familiar territory, but not without some drama. Delhi Capitals opened the bidding at her base price of Rs 50 lakh, and curiously, they were the only team in the race. But just when it looked like Deepti would slip back to Delhi, UP Warriorz used their Right to Match card. Delhi went all the way to Rs 3.2 crore, and UP happily matched it, bringing Deepti back to Lucknow for a massive price tag.
Amelia Kerr: Rs 3 crore (Mumbai Indians)
New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr was always going to be one of the hottest picks, and Mumbai Indians made sure they didn’t let her go. After a competitive round of bidding, MI closed the deal at Rs 3 crore, strengthening an already elite squad.
Shikha Pandey: 2.4 Crore (UP Warriorz)
Team India’s all-rounder, Shikha Pandey hit the jackpot by going sold for a bumper 2.4 crore to UP Warriorz.
Sophie Devine: Rs 2 crore (Gujarat Giants)
Sophie Devine sparked one of the fiercest bidding battles of the auction. Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru traded blows early on before Gujarat Giants jumped in with conviction. In the end, Giants outlasted both teams and secured Devine for Rs 2 crore.
Meg Lanning: Rs 1.90 crore (UP Warriorz)
Delhi Capitals made a strong attempt to bring back their former captain and two-time finalist Meg Lanning, but they simply couldn’t outspend UP Warriorz. Riding on the biggest purse of any franchise, UP comfortably snapped her up for Rs 1.90 crore, adding massive leadership experience to their setup.
Chinelle Henry: Rs 1.30 crore (Delhi Capitals)
West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry also attracted heavy interest, but it was Delhi Capitals who placed the winning bid. At Rs 1.30 crore, Henry becomes one of Delhi’s marquee overseas signings for the 2026 season.
The auction had its twists, surprises, and plenty of high-stakes moments, but one thing’s clear: teams aren’t hesitating to spend big on proven match-winners. With the squads now stacked, WPL 2026 is shaping up to be more competitive than ever.