Women's Premier League Sets Up a 146-Player Auction for 27 Slots as UP Warriorz Bring the Biggest Purse to Kochi

India's flagship women's cricket league is preparing for its next auction, and with it another milestone in the professionalisation of women's sport in the country. The Women's Premier League (WPL) has shortlisted 146 players for its 2027 player auction, to be held in Kochi, Kerala, on Wednesday, October 28, according to details reported by Business Standard on October 20.

The five franchises will compete for 27 available slots, 20 for Indian players and seven for overseas players. The pool comprises 119 Indian players, 22 of them capped at international level and 97 uncapped, along with 27 overseas players, six of whom come from cricket's Associate Nations.

For many of the uncapped players, the auction represents a life-changing opportunity: a professional contract, exposure to international teammates and coaches, and a platform watched by millions of fans.

The purses

UP Warriorz enter the auction with the largest remaining purse, ₹3.75 crore, and the most slots to fill, eight in total: five Indian and three overseas. The franchise released nine players, including West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, South Africa's Chloe Tryon and India's Kiran Navgire. It also traded Tara Norris to Mumbai Indians for ₹10 lakh.

Gujarat Giants have ₹1.25 crore for three slots after retaining 15 players and releasing four, including England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ₹1.15 crore for five slots after releasing four players, including Australia's Grace Harris.

Delhi Capitals have ₹1.10 crore for five slots after retaining 13 players and releasing six, including South Africa's Lizelle Lee and India's Sneh Rana. Mumbai Indians have the smallest purse, ₹90 lakh, for six Indian slots, after retaining 11 players and releasing six.

Who is in the pool

England's Sophia Dunkley and Australia's Sophie Molineux head the list with the highest base price of ₹50 lakh. India's G. Kamalini and Kiran Navgire, along with Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen, have set base prices of ₹40 lakh. Thirty players are listed at ₹30 lakh, four at ₹20 lakh and 106 at ₹10 lakh, the lowest bracket, which includes most of the uncapped Indian players.

Navgire's presence in the auction after her release by UP Warriorz will be closely watched. The batter rose to prominence with her power-hitting and has been a fan favourite.

The inclusion of six players from Associate Nations reflects the WPL's growing role in developing women's cricket beyond the traditional Test-playing countries.

The business of women's cricket

The WPL, launched by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2023, has transformed the economics of women's cricket in India. The initial sale of franchises and media rights generated significant revenue, and the league quickly established itself as the world's most lucrative women's cricket competition.

For players, the league has created earning opportunities that were unimaginable a few years ago. Top players earn contracts worth crores of rupees, while even uncapped players at the base price of ₹10 lakh receive sums that can be transformative for young athletes, many of whom come from modest backgrounds in small towns.

The league has also boosted the visibility of women's cricket, attracting large television and streaming audiences, growing stadium attendance and drawing sponsors keen to associate with women's sport. India's national women's team has become increasingly popular, and the WPL has helped develop a deeper pool of domestic talent.

A smaller auction, a maturing league

The 2027 auction is a relatively small one, with only 27 slots available, as franchises have retained most of their core players. That reflects a maturing league in which teams have built settled squads and focus on filling specific gaps rather than rebuilding.

With limited purses, franchises will need to be strategic. UP Warriorz, with the most money and slots, are expected to be the most active bidders. Teams with smaller purses may focus on bargains among uncapped players and specialists to complete their squads.

The purse sizes also show the economics of the league are still modest compared with the men's Indian Premier League, where franchises spend tens of crores of rupees at each auction. Closing that gap, through higher media rights values, sponsorships and attendance, remains a long-term goal for women's cricket.

Why it matters beyond sport

The growth of women's professional sport has broader social and economic significance. Visible female athletes can inspire girls to take up sport, challenge stereotypes and expand the range of careers women see as possible. In India, where women's participation in the workforce remains relatively low, the success of women athletes sends a powerful message about opportunity.

Sponsors and brands increasingly see women's sport as a growth market, reaching audiences that value inclusion and diversity. Around the world, women's football, cricket, tennis and basketball have experienced rising viewership and commercial investment in recent years.

The rise of women's cricket in India

Women's cricket in India has transformed over the past decade. The national team's run to the final of the 2017 Women's World Cup drew huge television audiences and raised the profile of players such as Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana. Since then, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has introduced equal match fees for men and women at the international level, and broadcast and sponsorship interest has grown steadily.

The launch of the WPL in 2023 was a landmark. Franchise owners paid substantial sums for teams, and media rights were sold for significant amounts, creating a professional domestic league that provides players with income, exposure and experience against top international talent. The league has also helped identify and develop young players from across the country, many of whom have gone on to represent India.

What to watch on October 28

The auction in Kochi will reveal which players franchises value most, how much they are willing to pay for overseas stars like Dunkley and Molineux, and which uncapped Indian players earn their first WPL contracts.

For the players, it is a moment of opportunity. For the league, it is another step in building a sustainable, competitive and commercially successful women's sports property. And for India, it is further evidence that women's cricket has become a serious business in its own right. For fans, players and franchise owners alike, the auction will set the tone for a season that is expected to draw record audiences.