Now Reading: WPL 2027 Auction: Molineux Smashes the Bank as Navgire Lands Big Delhi Deal
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WPL 2027 Auction: Molineux Smashes the Bank as Navgire Lands Big Delhi Deal
The hammer fell in Kochi, and the WPL 2027 mini auction delivered its share of drama. Sophie Molineux broke the bank, Kiran Navgire sparked an early bidding war, and all five franchises locked in their squads. Here is the full rundown of the biggest buys and the final rosters.
How the WPL 2027 Mini Auction Unfolded
The excitement had been building since the franchises confirmed their retentions and releases in September. That left just 27 spots up for grabs across the five teams.
About 150 names registered to go under the hammer on October 28 in Kochi. UP Warriorz walked in with the biggest purse, while the other teams had roughly 1 crore to 1.25 crore to spend.
With limited slots and tight budgets, every bid carried weight. Franchises had to be sharp, and a few players still managed to cause a stir.
Sophie Molineux Is the Top Buy
The headline moment belonged to Australia captain and all-rounder Sophie Molineux. UP Warriorz spent ₹1.1 crore to bring the left-arm orthodox bowler back to the WPL, making her the most expensive player of the auction.
It marks her return to the league for the first time since 2024. RCB had let her go earlier in the evening before moving for another left-arm spinner.
Jess Jonassen Heads to RCB
That replacement was Jess Jonassen. The former Delhi Capitals bowler joins two-time WPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹40 lakh, giving the defending champions an experienced left-arm option.
Kiran Navgire Sparks an Early Frenzy
India middle-order batter Kiran Navgire was the talk of the town early on. She was the first player up, and several franchises showed interest in the swashbuckling hitter.
Delhi Capitals eventually won the race, landing her for ₹75 lakh. That made her the most expensive Indian player sold and the second-most expensive buy overall, behind only Molineux.
Delhi were clearly searching for firepower in the middle order, and Navgire fits that brief. She is known for explosive hitting, and a new team gives her a fresh platform.
G Kamalini Joins Gujarat Giants
Another notable name was G Kamalini, who moves to the Gujarat Giants for ₹40 lakh after a year with Mumbai Indians. She impressed in the early stages of her career and remains one of the young talents to watch.
Most Expensive Buys at a Glance
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sophie Molineux | UP Warriorz | ₹1.1 crore |
| Kiran Navgire | Delhi Capitals | ₹75 lakh |
| G Kamalini | Gujarat Giants | ₹40 lakh |
| Jess Jonassen | RCB | ₹40 lakh |
WPL 2027 Full Squads After the Auction
All five franchises have finalised their rosters after the bidding in Kochi. The squads below include both retained players and fresh signings.
Squads of All Five Teams
| Team | Squad |
|---|---|
| Delhi Capitals Women | Annabel Sutherland, Chinelle Henry, Deeya Yadav, Jemimah Rodrigues, Laura Wolvaardt, Lucy Hamilton, Mamatha Madiwala, Marizanne Kapp, Minnu Mani, Nandni Sharma, Niki Prasad, Shafali Verma, Sree Charani, Kiran Navgire, Uma Kashvi, Kristie Gordon, Nazma Khan |
| Gujarat Giants Women | Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Bharti Fulmali, Georgia Wareham, Happy Kumari, Jintimani Kalita, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Kim Garth, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, Tanuja Kanwer, Yastika Bhatia, G Kamalini, Orla Prendergast, Samaira Raghav |
| Mumbai Indians Women | Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Nicola Carey, Rahila Firdous, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Vaishnavi Sharma, Tara Norris, Disha Kasat, Latika Inamdar, Bharti Rawal, Saanika Chalke, Akshita Bhagat, Shweta Sehrawat |
| RCB Women | Arundhati Reddy, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Prathyusha Kumar, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana, Jess Jonassen, Tejal Hasabnis, Vrinda Dinesh, Chloe Tyron |
| UP Warriorz Women | Deepti Sharma, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Pratika Rawal, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Sophie Ecclestone, Sophie Molineux, Sneh Rana, Grace Harris, Sushma Verma, Kathryn Bryce, Manali Dakshini, Sahana Pawar, Asha Sobhana |
What the Auction Tells Us
With only 27 slots and modest purses, this was a mini auction built on precision rather than splurging. Only two players crossed the ₹50 lakh mark, and Navgire and Molineux were the ones who did.
UP Warriorz made the boldest statement by committing the biggest sum to Molineux. Delhi Capitals backed attacking intent with Navgire, while RCB and Gujarat quietly strengthened their spin and batting depth.
The squads are now set. The next question is which of these new additions will turn into match-winners when WPL 2027 begins.
