A total of 146 players have registered for the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini auction, which will take place in Kochi on October 28. With 27 slots available across the five franchises, England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux are the only two players to have set their base price at the maximum of INR 50 lakh.
The auction pool features 119 Indian players, including 22 capped and 97 uncapped cricketers. Of the 27 available slots, 20 are reserved for Indian players.
The overseas pool consists of 27 players, with 14 capped and 13 uncapped cricketers. The list also includes six players from Associate nations, while seven overseas slots are available across the franchises.
Four Players Set Base Price at INR 40 Lakh
G Kamalini, released by Mumbai Indians, and Kiran Navgire, released by UP Warriorz, have registered at a base price of INR 40 lakh. Australia's Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen have also entered the auction at the same price.
Meanwhile, 30 players have registered at a base price of INR 30 lakh, including several established international cricketers.
Among the notable absentees are West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin, who was released by UP Warriorz, and Australia leg-spinner Alana King, who was released by Delhi Capitals. Lizelle Lee, Delhi Capitals' highest run-scorer last season, has also not registered for the auction following her release.
Most England Players to Skip WPL 2027
Only two English players, Sophia Dunkley and Kira Chathli, have registered for the auction. Chathli has set her base price at INR 10 lakh.
Several prominent England players, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Linsey Smith, have opted not to register for next year's tournament.
According to ESPNcricinfo, England are likely to play three T20 Internationals in Sri Lanka in early February, potentially clashing with the final week of the WPL. Although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is expected to allow players to remain in India to complete the tournament, many have reportedly chosen to prioritise their international commitments ahead of the Champions Trophy later that month.
Financial considerations are also believed to have influenced the decision. England's The Hundred offered players salaries of up to £190,000 last year, significantly higher than the WPL's maximum permitted base price of INR 50 lakh, approximately £40,000.
Molineux Eyes WPL Return, Dunkley Re-enters Auction
Sophie Molineux was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title-winning squad in 2024, taking 12 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 7.31.
RCB retained the Australian allrounder for the 2025 season, but a knee injury ruled her out of the tournament. Her availability at the upcoming auction could attract interest from franchises looking to strengthen their bowling options.
Dunkley, meanwhile, represented Gujarat Giants in the inaugural WPL season in 2023. She did not register for the 2024 auction and went unsold in the 2025 auction. The England batter will now look to secure a contract ahead of the 2027 season.
Grace Harris, Chamari Athapaththu Among INR 30 Lakh Options
Several high-profile international players have entered the auction at a base price of INR 30 lakh.
The list includes Australia's allrounder Grace Harris, who was released by RCB, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon.
Their availability could provide franchises with opportunities to add international experience and strengthen their squads at a relatively lower starting price.
UP Warriorz Have the Biggest Auction Purse
UP Warriorz will enter the auction with the largest available purse of INR 3.75 crore after releasing nine players.
With 27 slots to fill and several experienced international cricketers available, the mini auction is expected to be an important opportunity for franchises to address gaps in their squads ahead of WPL 2027.
The bidding for Dunkley and Molineux, both registered at the maximum base price, will be among the key talking points as teams look to build competitive squads for the upcoming season.