By Admin 
India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma on Thursday became the most expensive player in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction while ODI World Cup stars Sri Charani and Laura Wolvaardt also fetched good prices.
Deepti Sharma was bought by UP Warriors for Rs 3 crore 20 lakh using ‘Right to Match’ card. Now she is the most expensive Indian player in the history of WPL after Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana had received Rs 20 lakh more than him.
Kshemal Waingankar, director of cricket operations of UP Warriors, said, “We were expecting bidding around this time.” There was no doubt that we wanted Deepti back.
Mumbai Indians bought New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, the joint highest wicket taker last year, for Rs 3 crore. Kerr was part of the Mumbai team that won the title in 2023 and 2025.
UP Warriors bought experienced all-rounder Shikha Pandey for Rs 2 crore 40 lakh, who last played for India in 2023.
Leg spinner Shri Charani, who was one of the architects of India’s title win in the World Cup, was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 1 crore 30 lakh, many times more than his base price of Rs 30 lakh. World Cup runner-up South Africa’s opening batsman Laura Wolvaardt was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 1 crore 10 lakh.
Delhi bought West Indies batsman Chinelle Henry for Rs 1 crore 30 lakh and Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana for Rs 50 lakh. Australia’s Meg Lanning was bought by UP Warriors for Rs 1 crore 90 lakh, while New Zealand’s Sophie Devine was bought by Gujarat Titans for Rs 2 crore.
Warriors had a purse of Rs 14 crore 50 lakh for the auction. He once again used the ‘Right to Match’ card and bought England spinner Sophie Eccleton for Rs 85 lakh and fast bowler Kranti Gaur for Rs 50 lakh.
They bought Harleen Deol for Rs 50 lakh while Gujarat bought Indian fast bowler Renuka Singh for Rs 60 lakh. South African finisher Nadine de Klerk was bought by RCB for Rs 65 lakh. RCB bought all-rounder Arundhati Reddy for Rs 75 lakh and Radha Yadav for Rs 65 lakh.
Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield was bought by the Warriors for Rs 1 crore 20 lakh.
The biggest surprise of the day was Australia’s ‘big hitter’ captain Alyssa Healy not finding any buyer. She could not play in the 2025 season due to injury, her name was bid first but no one bought it. His compatriot spinner Alana King was also not sold. 67 out of 77 players available in the auction were bought.