The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 mini-auction was held in Bengaluru on Sunday to fill 19 slots, including five reserved for overseas players.
A total of 120 players were up for selection, comprising 91 Indian and 29 international cricketers.
Each of the five franchises had been given a budget of Rs 15 crore to build a squad of up to 18 players, including a maximum of six overseas players. Teams had the opportunity to retain players from the previous season prior to the auction.
Most franchises retained their core groups but released some players to free up funds for new acquisitions during the auction. The total value of retained players was deducted from Rs 15 crore budget, determining the remaining purse for the auction.
Gujarat Giants entered the auction with the largest purse of Rs 4.4 crore, while Delhi Capitals, runners-up in both 2023 and 2024, had the smallest purse at Rs 2.5 crore.
The minimum base price of a player at the WPL 2025 auction was Rs 10 lakh while the maximum base price was Rs 50 lakh.
Top names in women’s cricket, including West Indian all-rounder Deandra Dottin, England captain Heather Knight and New Zealand fast bowler Lea Tahuhu, were part of the WPL 2025 auction.
Deandra Dottin was acquired by Gujarat Giants for Rs 1.70 crore. Simran Shaikh, bought for Rs 1.90 crore by Gujarat Giants, was the most expensive player at the WPL 2025 auction.
The 13-year-old left-arm seamer Anshu Nagar was the youngest player at the WPL 2025 auction but went unsold. However, Mumbai Indians shelled out Rs 1.60 crore for 16-year-old all-rounder G Kamalini.
Smriti Mandhana, who was acquired by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the WPL 2023 auction for Rs 3.40 crore, remains the most expensive player in the WPL. She helped her team win the title in 2024.
Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, fetched by Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians, respectively, at the WPL 2023 auction for Rs 3.20 crore each, remain the joint-costliest overseas buys in the WPL.
WPL 2025 auction: Most expensive players
Most expensive player at WPL 2025 auction – Simran Shaikh (Rs 1.90 crore) to Gujarat Giants
Most expensive overseas player at WPL 2025 auction – Deandra Dottin (Rs 1.70 crore) to Gujarat Giants
Most expensive Indian player at WPL 2025 auction – Simran Shaikh (Rs 1.90 crore) to Gujarat Giants
Most expensive uncapped player at WPL 2025 auction – Simran Shaikh (Rs 1.90 crore) to Gujarat Giants
