Kochi, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Australia captain Sophie Molineux emerged as the biggest signing in the opening phase of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, with UP Warriorz securing the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder for Rs 1.10 crore in Kochi on Wednesday. Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, signed young Indian wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for her base price of Rs 40 lakh.
Molineux, who was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning squad in 2024 but missed the 2026 WPL season, had entered the auction with a base price of Rs 50 lakh. UP Warriorz opened the bidding, with RCB joining the contest and pushing the price to Rs 95 lakh in less than a minute.
UPW raised the offer to Rs 1 crore, prompting RCB to respond with Rs 1.05 crore. UP Warriorz eventually secured Molineux with a winning bid of Rs 1.10 crore.
The Australian all-rounder recently returned to international cricket during the T20I series against New Zealand after recovering from a hip injury.
Gujarat Giants signed Kamalini for Rs 40 lakh without competition from other franchises. Released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction, the young wicketkeeper-batter was widely expected to attract interest after missing out on contention for the 2027 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
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Although her WPL performances for Mumbai Indians have been modest, Kamalini was part of India’s 2025 Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup-winning team. She has also represented India A and Tamil Nadu and has featured in the senior national team setup.
Gujarat Giants strengthened their squad further by signing Ireland seam-bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast for Rs 30 lakh.
Delhi Capitals made their first signing of the auction by acquiring Indian batter Kiran Navgire for Rs 75 lakh. Mumbai Indians opened the bidding at Rs 40 lakh and raised the price to Rs 70 lakh before Delhi Capitals made the decisive bid of Rs 75 lakh. With only Rs 90 lakh remaining in their purse, Mumbai Indians withdrew from the contest.
UP Warriorz also added India off-spin-bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana and Australia’s hard-hitting all-rounder Grace Harris for their respective base prices of Rs 30 lakh.
Sneh, a former Gujarat Giants captain who also joined RCB as a replacement player, attracted no competing bids, including from her former franchise, Delhi Capitals.
Grace returns to UP Warriorz after a productive stint with RCB, who won the WPL title in 2026. RCB released the Australian all-rounder with Ellyse Perry expected to return. At UP Warriorz, Grace could compete for an opening position alongside Meg Lanning or Pratika Rawal.
Several players went unsold during the opening rounds. Raghvi Bist, who has represented India in two T20 Internationals, was the first player to go under the hammer but failed to attract a bid at her base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Maharashtra’s big-hitting middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, who is currently part of India’s ODI squad for the series against Zimbabwe, also went unsold. Ayushi Soni, who has played one T20I and one WPL match for Gujarat Giants, was another player left without a buyer.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, one of the leading figures in her country’s women’s cricket, also failed to attract a bid. England batter Sophia Dunkley, one of only two English players in the auction, went unsold at her base price of Rs 50 lakh.
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