The countdown has begun. Exactly a day from now, New Delhi will once again turn into women’s cricket’s most intense marketplace, buzzing with tension, loaded with strategy, and electrified by the promise of franchise-defining buys. With 73 slots to fill, 277 players entering the pool, and only 23 overseas spots available, tomorrow’s WPL auction is set to be a tactical minefield. Franchises have six overseas slots each, and the scramble for the right mix of firepower, leadership and versatility will be fascinating to watch.
Here are the overseas names most likely to spark full-blown bidding wars.
Phoebe Litchfield (Australia)
Gujarat Giants’ decision not to retain Phoebe Litchfield shocked many, but it may end up being a blessing for the gifted left-hander. A free-flowing opener with an eclectic range of strokes, elite fielding standards and endless energy, Litchfield is tailor-made for Indian conditions. Her sweep variations and switch hits make spin, the WPL’s biggest factor, her favourite hunting ground.
Expect Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz to push hard. RCB and GG, both already stacked with left-handed openers, are unlikely to join the chase, which only clears the bidding pathway for everyone else. Litchfield is easily one of the hottest overseas batting picks of the auction.
Georgia Wareham (Australia)
Few players offer the all-round value Georgia Wareham does. A leg-spinner with guile, a batter who can float across positions, and a proven T20 impact player, Wareham ticks every franchise’s wishlist. She has 12 wickets in the ongoing WBBL and boasts a blistering strike rate of 151.85 with the bat.
RCB would love to win her back, while UPW, guided by Lisa Sthalekar, who knows Wareham’s game inside-out, will certainly be in the race. T20s are ruled by multi-dimensional cricketers, and a wrist spinner who can both stabilise the top order as well as finish games is gold dust.
Meg Lanning (Australia)
A year ago, Meg Lanning seemed like a safe, stabilising batting option. Today, she’s arrived at the auction as a revitalised force. The WBBL’s highest run-scorer this season, 327 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 154.25, Lanning looks reborn, fresh, aggressive and tactically astute.
While DC have already signalled a shift towards youth by not retaining her despite three finals appearances under her leadership, UPW and GG, both in search of captains, will be extremely interested. With Australian coaching groups in both camps, Lanning could become the centrepiece of their 2026 rebuild.
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
South Africa’s captain enters the auction in irresistible touch. Her World Cup campaign was a masterclass in timing, composure and shot selection, particularly in pressure scenarios. Every franchise in need of a top-order anchor with range and temperament will have their eyes on her.
RCB fans have long fantasised about a Smriti–Laura opening partnership, and this could finally be the year their dream gets tested at the auction table. DC may look at her as both a leader and a steadying presence alongside Shafali Verma. UPW could consider her, though their historical bias towards Australian players might hold them back.
Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)
If there is one overseas all-rounder guaranteed to attract big money, it’s Nadine de Klerk. Her remarkable World Cup, 208 runs at a strike rate of 131.65, nine wickets, and two match-winning performances, has changed her profile entirely. She worked on her power-hitting with the strength & conditioning coach, and the results have been spectacular.
Her WBBL numbers back the transformation: a strike rate of 141.49 with the bat and crucial wickets with the ball. She is the complete T20 package, and teams searching for balance in the middle order will target her aggressively.
Other Contenders Who Could Surprise
Danni Wyatt-Hodge brings explosive starts, Alyssa Healy brings experience and leadership, Amelia Kerr brings elite all-round class, and Linsey Smith offers a crafty left-arm-spin option. Expect at least one of them to trigger a bidding tussle when the right slot opens.
As the WPL continues to evolve into one of the most competitive women’s leagues globally, the value of overseas stars has never been higher. Tomorrow’s auction won’t just be about who spends the most, it will be about which teams read the room, trust the data and dare to be bold. With world-class talent, rejuvenated veterans, and rising all-rounders all entering the spotlight, the auction promises chaos, strategy, and moments that might just reshape the next two years of the league.
The stage is set. The stakes are high. And as the hammer drops in Delhi, the WPL’s next era will begin, with these overseas stars right at its centre.
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