The upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) mini-auction in Kochi on Wednesday is set to be a significant event for women's cricket. Indian wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini, all-rounder Sneh Rana, middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis, Australian captain Sophie Molineux, England's Sophia Dunkley, and Australian all-rounder Grace Harris are among the key players expected to draw high bids.

A total of 146 players will go under the hammer, but all eyes will be on Mumbai's 16-year-old batting sensation, Ira Jadhav. Despite being uncapped, Jadhav's explosive 346-run innings off just 157 balls against Meghalaya in last year's Women's Under-19 One Day tournament has made her a hot commodity. All five WPL teams are anticipated to engage in a fierce bidding war for her.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals collectively need to fill 27 slots, with 20 reserved for Indian players. The UP Warriorz currently hold the largest purse with ₹3.75 crore available, followed by Gujarat Giants with ₹1.25 crore, Royal Challengers Bangalore with ₹1.15 crore, and Delhi Capitals with ₹1.10 crore. Mumbai Indians have the smallest budget, with ₹90 lakh remaining.

Teams like RCB, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat Giants, who made it to the WPL 2026 playoffs, have retained most of their core players, leaving them with fewer slots to fill in this auction. The fifth season of the WPL is scheduled to run from January 14 to February 7, 2027, promising another exciting chapter in women's cricket.

Disclaimer: This story is sourced from a syndicated agency feed and has been refined using artificial intelligence to improve readability. Please note that this article was published automatically and has not undergone a human editorial review.