The race to secure the remaining spots for the 2027 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season will intensify at the player auction in Kochi on October 28, with 146 cricketers set to go under the hammer for just 27 available slots across the five franchises. England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia all-rounder Sophie Molineux headline the auction pool with the highest base price of Rs 50 lakh.According to a WPL press release, the auction list features 119 Indian players, including 22 capped and 97 uncapped cricketers, alongside 27 overseas players, comprising 14 capped and 13 uncapped names. Six overseas players represent Associate Nations.Of the 27 slots available, 20 are reserved for Indian players and seven for overseas recruits. The auction is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM.
Dunkley, Molineux lead highest base-price bracket
Dunkley and Molineux have registered at the top base price of Rs 50 lakh, putting the England batter and Australia all-rounder among the headline names in the auction. India’s G Kamalini and Kiran Navgire, along with Australia’s Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen, have set their base price at Rs 40 lakh. Another 30 players have registered in the Rs 30 lakh bracket.With limited vacancies across the five franchises, teams will need to balance their remaining budgets and squad requirements while identifying players who can strengthen their line-ups ahead of the new season.
Mumbai Indians acquire Tara Norris in trade
Ahead of the auction, Mumbai Indians acquired USA left-arm seamer Tara Norris from UP Warriorz at her base price of Rs 10 lakh. Norris previously represented Delhi Capitals in the inaugural WPL season in 2023, making an immediate impact by becoming the first bowler in the tournament’s history to take a five-wicket haul. She returned figures of 5/29 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Brabourne Stadium, dismissing Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight and Richa Ghosh among others.Her move to Mumbai adds another option to the franchise’s bowling resources ahead of the auction. With 146 players competing for 27 places, the Kochi auction will offer franchises a final opportunity to address gaps in their squads and build combinations for the 2027 WPL season.
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