Molineux Tops WPL Auction as Warriorz Spend Big and RCB Play the Waiting Game

Kochi: UP Warriorz arrived at the WPL 2027 auction with the largest purse and the most holes to fill. They left having secured the headline signing, with Australia captain Sophie Molineux joining for ₹1.1 crore, the highest price paid at the sale.

The pursuit was not uncontested. RCB, Molineux’s former side, stayed in the bidding until ₹1.05 crore before dropping out, their purse of ₹1.15 crore leaving little room to manoeuvre. UPW’s director of cricket Kshemal Waingankar was unequivocal about the intent.

“[We were going to get Molineux] at any cost,” Waingankar said. “That puts us in a good position with Sophie and Grace combined to tweak our combinations and decide what works best. Grace brings power to the middle order, Sophie Molineux obviously leadership qualities, an exceptional bowler and fantastic with the team in general. Our thought was her and Sophie Ecclestone together would be a lethal force, and with Grace we have the option of switching and seeing how things go work.”

Molineux led Australia to their seventh T20 World Cup title in July and is their highest wicket-taker this year. Her arrival, alongside the returning Grace Harris, gives UPW a spin contingent of considerable depth.

Harris Returns to Familiar Ground

Harris, who was released by RCB ahead of the auction, returns to UPW for ₹30 lakh. She had been Smriti Mandhana’s opening partner and RCB’s second-highest run-getter last season, but her history with UPW stretches back to the league’s early seasons, where she batted in the middle order.

“I would agree, yes [that Grace was a steal for 30 lakh],” Waingankar said. “It’s good to have her back. Our first season we had her, 17 balls 51 runs needed, she won us the game, she set WPL alight. We were on the other end of the stick last year with her [at RCB]. But she’s someone we’re very happy to bring back.”

UPW filled all eight of their available slots, also adding India allrounder Sneh Rana and wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma at their base prices of ₹30 lakh. For Rana, it will be a fourth WPL team after RCB, GG and DC.

“[The UP Warriorz spin attack] is very strong,” Rana said. “And Deepti Sharma will be with me, with whom I have been playing for a long time. So I know their strengths, so we will keep talking to each other. And it’s going to be a lot of fun. I am very excited [to play under Meg Lanning]. I have always seen her on TV. And even now when she leads UP, it looks very good. Seeing her captaincy, seeing her changes, it looks very good. So I am very excited to play under her.”

Navgire Leads the Indian Contingent

India middle-order batter Kiran Navgire was the most expensive Indian player sold, joining Delhi Capitals for ₹75 lakh. DC also bought 15-year-old Karnataka allrounder Uma Kashvi for ₹10 lakh, making her the youngest player ever sold at a WPL auction.

Gujarat Giants secured India wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for her base price of ₹40 lakh. Kamalini had played for Mumbai Indians in 2025 and 2026 after being bought for ₹1.60 crore. GG also added Ireland allrounder Orla Prendergast for ₹30 lakh ahead of her maiden WPL stint and 16-year-old uncapped allrounder Samaira Raghav for ₹10 lakh.

Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce went to UPW for ₹10 lakh, while her national teammate Kirstie Gordon joined DC for the same price. Both will be eligible for selection as a fifth overseas player, a provision extended to Associate nations.

RCB’s Patient Approach

Defending champions RCB did not buy a single player in the first ten sets. They eventually secured Australia allrounder Jess Jonassen for her base price of ₹40 lakh in the accelerated round, adding Chloe Tryon for ₹30 lakh, Tejal Hasabnis for ₹30 lakh and Vrinda Dinesh for ₹10 lakh.

Mumbai Indians, working with the smallest purse at ₹90 lakh, bought six uncapped players. Twelve of the 25 players sold were uncapped Indians.

“Obviously, with the retentions, we had a sort of solid core group that we were able to retain,” Luke Williams, MI’s head coach, said. “So, certainly, today was about trying to add to the group, whether that’s in the starting XI potentially, or if not, providing different options and coverage through the tournament, depending on what surfaces we play on and if there’s any injuries or players out of form. So, yeah, really happy with the depth that we’ve built across different areas and really excited to work with some new players.”

Unsold Names

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, with a base price of ₹30 lakh, and England batter Sophia Dunkley, with a base price of ₹50 lakh, went unsold. Of the 27 slots available across the five teams, 25 were filled, with only RCB and DC leaving one spot vacant each.

Players bought:

Delhi Capitals: Kiran Navgire (₹75 lakh), Uma Kashvi (₹10 lakh), Kirstie Gordon (₹10 lakh), Nazma Khan (₹10 lakh)

Gujarat Giants: G Kamalini (₹40 lakh), Orla Prendergast (₹30 lakh), Samaira Raghav (₹10 lakh)

Mumbai Indians: Disha Kasat (₹10 lakh), Latika Inamdar (₹10 lakh), Bharti Rawal (₹10 lakh), Sanika Chalke (₹10 lakh), Shweta Sehrawat (₹20 lakh), Akshita Bhagat (₹10 lakh)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jess Jonassen (₹40 lakh), Tejal Hasabnis (₹30 lakh), Vrinda Dinesh (₹10 lakh), Chloe Tryon (₹30 lakh)

UP Warriorz: Sophie Molineux (₹1.10 crore), Sneh Rana (₹30 lakh), Grace Harris (₹30 lakh), Sushma Verma (₹30 lakh), Kathryn Bryce (₹10 lakh), Manali Dakshini (₹10 lakh), Sahana Pawar (₹10 lakh), S Asha (₹30 lakh)

                                               

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