The one thing that adds fuel to the IPL and WPL’s excitement is the player auction conducted before the new season kicks off.
Over the years, we have seen players get huge bids in the IPL auction, and the same thing has been repeated in the WPL auction.
The young and thrilling WPL is following in the footsteps of the IPL in setting the tempo in the right direction. Many women cricketers have fetched astounding deals in the league that they wouldn’t have imagined before.
So, here are the top 10 most expensive players in WPL auction history.
1. Smriti Mandhana | 3.40 Cr
Smriti Mandhana was the first-ever player to go under the hammer, and she set auction proceedings on fire. Teams engaged in a fierce bidding battle to grab the stylish left-hander, but RCB had the last laugh as they fetched INR 3.40 crore for Mandhana. The first-ever purchase in the WPL auction went down in history as the most expensive buy.
2. Ashleigh Gardner | 3.20 Cr
The Australian spin-bowling all-rounder was in high demand among the overseas players in the first auction. Ashleigh Gardner made her way to the Gujarat Giants, as they bought her for INR 3.20 crore.
3. Natalie Sciver-Brunt | 3.20 Cr
Another all-rounder, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, garnered INR 3.20 crore as the winning bid. The Mumbai Indians secured the services of the English all-rounder in the 2023 auction.
4. Deepti Sharma | 2.60 Cr
Deepti Sharma has had her fairytale moments for India and was on the expected lines to get some good money in the 2023 WPL auction. And the franchise based out of her home state, UP Warriorz, splurged INR 2.60 crores for Deepti.
5. Jemimah Rodrigues | 2.20 Cr
Jemimah Rodrigues, who is always in a playful mood on the field, made the WPL teams go crazy to acquire her services. Delhi Capitals snapped the Mumbai batter for INR 2.20 crore in the first auction.
Also Read | The Ten Best Women Cricketers of All Time
6. Beth Mooney | 2 Cr
The Gujarat Giants were quite adamant about getting Beth Mooney under their wings, and they did it by spending INR 2 crore on her in the 2023 auction. However, she got injured in the first match of the season and returned home without playing any more games.
7. Shafali Verma | 2 Cr
The Delhi Capitals bolstered their opening slot by adding the attacking Indian opener, Shafali Verma, to their side. Shafali secured a winning deal of INR 2 crore in 2023.
8. Annabel Sutherland | 2 Cr
Annabel Sutherland played the first season for the Gujarat Giants, but the franchise didn’t retain her ahead of the 2024 season. But that worked wonders for Sutherland, as she got a whopping bid of INR 2 crore from the Delhi Capitals, making her the most expensive player in the 2024 WPL auction.
9. Kashvee Gautam | 2 Cr
After displaying her promising performances for India A, Kashvee Gautam was in the limelight in the 2024 auction. The Gujarat Giants acquired her for INR 2 crore, making her the most expensive uncapped player in the WPL. She became just the fifth Indian to sign a deal worth INR 2 crore or more.
10. Pooja Vastrakar | 1.9 Cr
Pooja Vastrakar, the Indian pacer, earned a massive bid of INR 1.9 crore in the first season. The Mumbai Indians bet on her paid off, as she played a pivotal role in their inaugural WPL title triumph.
Read Next | The 10 Most Expensive Players in IPL History
