Ace India all-rounder Deepti Sharma became the joint second-most expensive player in WPL history at the mega auction held in Delhi on Thursday, November 27. UP Warriorz (UPW), for whom she played previously, exercised their right-to-match (RTM) option to retain her services for INR 3.2 crore. In 2023, Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt were bought for INR 3.2 crore by Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians, respectively. Smriti Mandhana remains the most expensive player ever sold at a WPL auction, having been bought by RCB for INR 3.4 crore in 2023.
To everyone’s surprise, Australia’s wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy went unsold in the first round. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine became the first player to be bought in the auction, acquired by Gujarat Giants (GG) for INR 2 crore.
Amelia Kerr was the first buy for Mumbai Indians (MI), for INR 3 crore. Renuka Singh was bought by GG for INR 60 lakh. UPW secured Sophie Ecclestone for INR 85 lakh through RTM and Meg Lanning for INR 1.9 crore. Laura Wolvaardt went to Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 1.1 crore.
Among the marquee players, only Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) did not buy anyone. Australian batter Phoebe Litchfield was bought by UPW for INR 1.2 crore, while another Australian batter, Georgia Voll, was the first buy of RCB for INR 60 lakh. All-rounders Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav were also bought by RCB to strengthen their squad. Kranti Gaud was bought by UPW using their fourth RTM. Shree Charani went to DC at a price of INR 1.3 crore.
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