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New Delhi: Star all-rounder Deepti Sharma's multi-million dollar deal got the ball rolling for the Indian World Cup winners at the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega-auction in New Delhi.
Deepti became the second most expensive Indian cricketer in the history of the league and the joint-second most expensive player overall after being bought for Rs 3.2 crore by UP Warriorz, who used their (Right to Match) RTM option to acquire her services for Rs 3.2 cr after Delhi Capitals' increased bid and brought her back home for a fourth successive season.
While Deepti became the second-most expensive player in WPL auction history after Smriti Mandhana, her teammates of the 2025 World Cup-winning squad also attracted handsome bids.
Left-arm spinner Sree Charani, one of the key contributors to India's historic win last month, was sold to Capitals for a whopping Rs 1.3 crore. The Delhi-based franchise acquired her services after an intense bidding war with UPW. A few minutes later, the Capitals added another World Cup winner to their squad by signing Sneh Rana for Rs 50 lakhs.
Spinner Radha Yadav also got herself a WPL deal worth Rs 65 lakhs with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) while batter Harleen Deol was sold at her base price of Rs 50 lakhs to UPW.
Young pacer and find of the World Cup, Kranti Goud, was also retained by UPW, who used their RTM option after Capitals' opening bid of Rs 50 lakh. Pacer Renuka Singh Thakur was signed by the Gujarat Giants for Rs 60 Lakhs
Parth Jindal, co-owner of the Capitals, sounded happy with his team's work so far in the auction. The Capitals have done some good early business at the auction, sealing some big deals, including the signing of South African skipper and highest run-scorer at the World Cup, Laura Wolvaardt, for Rs 1.1 crr.
Jindal was elated with the signings of Wolvaardt, Shree Charani and Sneh Rana.
"Yeah, obviously, we went till where we could for Meg, but I think in Laura, we've got a tremendous player who can fill in those shoes. Not only was she the highest run scorer in the recent World Cup, but she's also someone who has leadership ability as well.
"So I think she'll be a great addition to the dressing room. I think we're very excited about our spin attack now, with Shree Charani and Sneh Rana both coming in. I think it's stronger than what we had last year as well, and we still have some budget left to go after some more players," Jindal said during the press conference at the venue.
Jindal is happy with the team's balance and hopes to cross the final hurdle in 2026.
"I think we'll have more than six bowling options, and we have a very deep batting order. So yeah, I think it's looking good, we've reached three finals, it's time we go one step further. We have to, it's about time," he added.
Jindal also confirmed that the Capitals, previously captained by Meg Lanning, who was sold to UPW, will appoint an Indian skipper.
"I think we are very clear that we would like to have an Indian as the captain. So, depending on who else we land. We already have our minds made up, but let's see what happens," he told the media.
The WPL 2026 season will run from January 9 to February 5 in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara.
As many as 277 players - including 194 Indians and 83 overseas stars - are featuring in the bidding process at the WPL 2025 mega auction
