The numbers behind the bidding
A total of 150 players registered for the auction. Of those, 72 names were called, while 78 remained uncalled. Forty-seven of the 72 players who went under the hammer did not attract a successful bid, leaving 25 completed purchases.
The auction was largely driven by base-price deals. Twenty-two of the 25 purchases were made at the players’ registered base prices. Only Sophie Molineux, Kiran Navgire and Shweta Sehrawat secured prices above their starting values. Molineux led the list at ₹1.10 crore, a premium of ₹60 lakh over her ₹50 lakh base price. Navgire went to Delhi Capitals for ₹75 lakh against a ₹40 lakh base price, while Shweta Sehrawat joined Mumbai Indians for ₹20 lakh against a ₹10 lakh base price.
All-rounders were the most sought-after category, accounting for 13 signings, or 52 per cent of the players bought. Franchises also acquired seven batters, three specialist bowlers and two wicketkeepers. The pattern points to the value teams place on players who can contribute in more than one department in a compact T20 squad.
UP Warriorz take the biggest gamble
UP Warriorz entered the auction with eight vacancies and the largest remaining purse, ₹3.75 crore. They used ₹2.60 crore to complete all eight slots, signing Sophie Molineux for ₹1.10 crore, Grace Harris for ₹30 lakh, Sneh Rana for ₹30 lakh, Sushma Verma for ₹30 lakh and Asha Sobhana for ₹30 lakh. Kathryn Bryce, Manali Dakshini and Sahana Pawar completed the list at ₹10 lakh each.
The headline purchase gives the Warriorz another high-quality overseas all-round option, but it also creates a selection question because Sophie Ecclestone was already part of the squad. How the team balances its overseas combination and spin resources will be one of the season’s tactical questions. Harris adds middle-order hitting, while Sushma Verma offers wicketkeeping cover and the possibility of batting at the top. Rana and Sobhana add experience to the bowling group.
Different plans across the other four teams
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru approached the auction with a settled core and targeted additions. Their purchases included Jess Jonassen for ₹40 lakh, Chloe Tryon for ₹30 lakh, Tejal Hasabnis for ₹30 lakh and Vrinda Dinesh for ₹10 lakh. Jonassen and Tryon add all-round depth, while Hasabnis and Dinesh strengthen the Indian batting options. RCB finished with 17 players.
Delhi Capitals signed Kiran Navgire for ₹75 lakh, along with Uma Kashvi, Kirstie Gordon and Nazma Khan at ₹10 lakh each. The decision to invest in Navgire rather than a specialist wicketkeeper-batter leaves a squad-balance issue to monitor, particularly after Lizelle Lee’s departure. Gordon, an Associate player, offers additional flexibility in the bowling combination. Delhi also finished with 17 players.
Mumbai Indians made six additions for a total of ₹70 lakh: Shweta Sehrawat, Disha Kasat, Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal, Saanika Chalke and Akshita Bhagat. Their approach prioritised depth over a major purchase. The question for Mumbai will be whether their wicketkeeping options can provide consistent cover during the season.
Gujarat Giants had only three openings and signed Kamalini for ₹40 lakh, Orla Prendergast for ₹30 lakh and Samaira Raghav for ₹10 lakh. Their squad was already close to complete, but the additions create selection choices around the top-order wicketkeeper role and the overseas combination.
What the auction may mean for the season
The spending figures show that a large purse did not automatically translate into a single marquee-heavy strategy. UP Warriorz had the largest task and spent the most, while Mumbai used a much smaller budget to fill six positions. Three teams completed their 18-player squads; RCB and Delhi stopped at 17 because their remaining balances were below the minimum amount needed for another signing. Across the five teams, ₹1.90 crore of the available auction purse remained unspent.
The auction is only the first stage of squad building. The value of each purchase will depend on role clarity, availability, combinations and how players perform under match pressure. For UP Warriorz, the Molineux-Ecclestone balance will attract attention. Delhi’s wicketkeeping arrangement and Mumbai’s depth in that position are other areas to watch. RCB and Gujarat, meanwhile, will look to convert continuity into on-field results.
There is no definitive auction winner before the teams take the field. The Kochi event has, however, given each franchise a distinct set of strengths and questions to resolve ahead of WPL 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Who was the most expensive player at the WPL 2027 auction?
Sophie Molineux was the most expensive player at the Kochi mini-auction. UP Warriorz signed her for ₹1.10 crore, compared with her listed base price of ₹50 lakh. Her final price was 2.2 times the base amount.
Which WPL team spent the most at the 2027 auction?
UP Warriorz were the biggest spenders. They entered the auction with ₹3.75 crore, filled all eight of their vacant squad positions and spent ₹2.60 crore on eight players, including Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris and Sneh Rana.
How many players were bought at the WPL 2027 auction?
The five franchises bought 25 players from the 72 names that came under the hammer. A total of 150 players had registered, 78 names were not called and 47 of the players who were auctioned went unsold.
Which team was the most economical at the WPL 2027 auction?
Mumbai Indians signed six players for a combined ₹70 lakh. Their average spend was approximately ₹11.7 lakh per signing, making them the most economical buyers in the auction according to the post-auction breakdown.
Why did RCB and Delhi Capitals finish with 17 players?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals each ended with 17 players rather than filling the 18-player maximum. Their remaining purses were below the minimum ₹10 lakh required to make another purchase, according to the auction analysis.