WPL 2027 Auction: UP Warriorz Lead Rebuilding Race with ₹3.75 Crore Purse

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction will take place in Kochi on Wednesday, October 28, with all five franchises looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the tournament’s fifth season. 

A total of 150 players, comprising 122 Indians and 28 overseas cricketers, will go under the hammer for 27 available slots. UP Warriorz will enter the auction with the largest purse and the most vacancies, while defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will look to make selective additions with limited funds. Gujarat Giants, Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians will also have specific squad requirements to address as they prepare for the new season.

With teams having undergone major overhauls before the 2026 edition, this mini auction is an opportunity to fine-tune combinations rather than rebuild entire squads.

UP Warriorz will be the franchise to watch in Kochi after finishing last in the 2026 season. The team has released 10 players and will enter the auction with ₹3.75 crore remaining in its purse, alongside eight slots to fill. The franchise’s position gives it the greatest financial flexibility among the five teams. It can pursue multiple players to address weaknesses across its batting, bowling and all-round options, although it will need to distribute its budget carefully to build a balanced squad.

UP Warriorz also have three overseas slots available. This gives them scope to target international players who can strengthen key roles, while the sizeable Indian contingent offers opportunities to recruit domestic talent.

The challenge will be converting that flexibility into a squad capable of delivering more consistent performances after a disappointing previous campaign.

Gujarat Giants and RCB Face Different Priorities

Gujarat Giants have the second-largest remaining purse, with ₹1.25 crore available to fill three slots. Led by Ashleigh Gardner, the team finished in the top four in 2026 before losing to Delhi Capitals in the Eliminator.

With relatively few vacancies, Gujarat Giants can concentrate on targeted additions rather than making widespread changes. Their limited number of slots means that each signing will need to address a clear requirement within the existing squad.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have ₹1.15 crore remaining and five positions to fill, including two overseas slots. RCB will need to balance the need for squad depth with its limited budget, particularly as it looks to maintain the strength of its title-winning combination.

The Delhi Capitals have ₹1.10 crore and five slots available, including one overseas position. Mumbai Indians have the smallest purse at ₹90 lakh but need to fill six slots, with no overseas positions available. These differences will influence bidding strategies, with some franchises able to pursue fewer high-priority targets and others needing to spread their budgets across several additions.

WPL 2027 Auction: Team Purse and Available Slots

Across the five franchises, the 27 available positions will create competition for players who fit specific tactical and squad-building requirements. The purse distribution also highlights the contrasting challenges facing UP Warriorz, who have significant rebuilding to complete, and Mumbai Indians, who must fill six positions with the least money available.

Sophie Molineux, Grace Harris: Among Overseas Names to Watch

The overseas player pool includes several established international names. Australia’s Sophie Molineux and Grace Harris are among the prominent players available, alongside England’s Sophia Dunkley, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu and other experienced cricketers.

Their availability could attract interest from franchises looking to strengthen their international combinations. However, with only 28 overseas players in the pool and limited overseas vacancies across the teams, demand will depend on each franchise’s requirements and budget.

UP Warriorz, with three overseas slots, have the most room to recruit international players. RCB have two positions available, while Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals have one each. Mumbai Indians cannot add an overseas player under their current slot allocation.

Indian players will form the majority of the auction pool, accounting for 122 of the 150 names. Gunalan Kamalini and Sneh Rana are among the prominent domestic players available, while the broader Indian contingent will give franchises several options to strengthen their squads.

The depth of the domestic pool could be particularly important for teams with multiple vacancies. Rather than concentrating solely on established international names, franchises will need to identify Indian players who can provide reliable contributions in specific roles throughout the season.

For UP Warriorz, the combination of the largest purse and eight available slots creates an opportunity to make substantial changes. For the other four teams, the focus will be on finding the right additions without overspending.

The WPL 2027 auction in Kochi will ultimately test each franchise’s ability to balance immediate needs with long-term squad planning. With only 27 slots available, disciplined bidding and accurate identification of team requirements could prove as important as securing the biggest names in the pool.