The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction, held in Bengaluru on December 15, saw several notable transactions and highlights. Here are the key points:
Teams and Budgets
- Each of the five WPL teams (Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz) had a purse of ₹15 crore to build their squads. Teams were allowed to retain players from the previous season, and the remaining budget was used for the auction.
Most Expensive Players
Simran Shaikh: The most expensive player at the WPL 2025 auction, an uncapped Indian cricketer, was bought by Gujarat Giants for ₹1.90 crore. She was the highest-priced uncapped player and the most expensive Indian player in the auction.
Deandra Dottin: The most expensive overseas player was Deandra Dottin, acquired by Gujarat Giants for ₹1.70 crore.
Notable Bids
Other significant bids included Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt, who were previously the joint-costliest overseas buys in the WPL at ₹3.20 crore each, though they were retained by their respective teams and not part of this auction1.
Smriti Mandhana, who was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, remains the highest-paid player in the WPL with a salary of approximately ₹3.40 crore from the previous season.
Squad Details
Each team had to fill a total of 19 slots, including a maximum of six overseas players. Here are some squad details:
Gujarat Giants: Had a purse of ₹4.4 crore and acquired players like Simran Shaikh and Deandra Dottin.
Delhi Capitals: Had the lowest purse at ₹2.5 crore and had to fill two available slots.
Mumbai Indians: Had ₹75 lakh remaining and two available slots.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Had ₹2.05 crore remaining and three available slots.
UP Warriorz: Had ₹3.9 crore remaining and three available slots.
Player Pool
- The auction featured a pool of 124 players (91 Indian and 29 overseas) competing for the available slots in the five franchises.
Auction Process
- The minimum base price for players was ₹10 lakh, and the maximum base price was ₹50 lakh. Teams could bid on players to fill their squads, with the total cost of retained players deducted from their overall budget.
This auction highlighted the growing popularity and financial investment in the Women's Premier League, with significant bids and a strong focus on both established and emerging talent. Live streaming on Spinmatch