WPL 2026 Auction: Who are the most expensive Indian players in Women’s Premier League history?

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) teams will be vying to fill up to 73 slots during the mega auction for the 2026 season, which is set to take place in New Delhi on Thursday.

This will be only the second mega auction in the tournament’s history and might see multiple teams splurge huge sums as they look to revamp their squads.

Here are the most expensive Indian players in the WPL auction over the years:

Smriti Mandhana – Rs 3.40 crore (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Smriti Mandhana remains the most expensive player in the Women’s Premier League. She was signed for a whopping Rs. 3.40 crore by RCB during the first WPL auction.

The franchise’s faith in the southpaw paid off as Mandhana led team to a title in the 2024 season. Ahead of the 2026 season, Mandhana was retained by the side for Rs. 3.5 crore.

Deepti Sharma – Rs. 2.60 crore (UP Warriorz)

The all-rounder was picked for Rs. 2.20 crore in the inaugural auction by UP Warriorz. She played 25 matches for the side across the three seasons, scoring 507 runs at an average of 28. She also had 27 wickets to her name.

However, due to the side’s limited success till now, Warriorz released Deepti ahead of the mega auction this year.

Jemimah Rodrigues – Rs. 2.20 crore (Delhi Capitals)

The middle-order batter was signed by the Delhi Capitals in the 2023 auction for Rs. 2.20 crore. Jemimah has 507 runs for the side in 24 innings at an average of 28.

For the 2026 season, she has been retained by the side for Rs. 2.20 crore.

Shafali Verma – Rs. 2.00 crore (Delhi Capitals)

The flamboyant top-order batter is the leading Indian run-scorer in the WPL, hauling 865 runs at an average of 36. She also has eight half-centuries so far.

Despite an inconsistent run recently, which saw her dropped from India’s ODI squad for the World Cup, DC retained Shafali for Rs. 2.20 crore.

Kashvee Gautam – Rs. 2.00 crore (Gujarat Giants)

Kashvee Gautam, then an uncapped player, emerged as a surprise pick during the 2024 auction when Gujarat Giants secured her services for Rs. 2.00 crore after an intense bidding war with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and UP Warriorz.

She made her ODI debut in 2025 against Sri Lanka but went wicketless in the three games she played. She was released by the Giants and is in the auction pool for the 2026 season.

Published on Nov 26, 2025