WPL 2026 mega auction: UP Warriorz spend big on Deepti Sharma; Mumbai Indians bag Amelia Kerr, Healy goes unsold

New Delhi: UP Warriorz (UPW) bought back all-rounder Deepti Sharma for Rs 3.2 crore at the Women's Premier League (WPL) mega auction in New Delhi on Thursday, November 27. Mumbai Indians (MI) also re-signed New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr for Rs 3 crore, while Australian captain Alyssa Healy went unsold in the mega auction.

Delhi Capitals (DC) made the opening and final bid for the World Cup winner Deepti. UP Warriorz used the RTM (right-to-match) for the Indian all-rounder, and DC raised their bid to Rs 3.2 crore, which was matched by UPW via RTM. The spin-bowling all-rounder had captained the franchise last season in the absence of injured skipper Alyssa Healy.

Sophie Devine went to the Gujarat Giants (GG) for Rs 2 crore. She had missed the previous edition of the WPL after taking a break from cricket due to personal reasons. Devine played for RCB in the first two editions in 2023 and 2024 and was also part of the title-winning RCB side in 2024. She has scored 402 runs at an average of 23.65 and a strike rate of 153.44 in 18 WPL matches. With the ball, she has picked up nine wickets.

New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr was re-signed by the Mumbai Indians for Rs. 3 crore. The 25-year-old was part of the MI squads that won the WPL titles in 2023 and 2025. She has amassed 437 runs and picked 40 wickets in 29 WPL matches. In the last season, she clinched the Purple Cap with 18 wickets.

Former Australia and Delhi Capitals captain Meg Lanning was signed by UP Warriorz for Rs. 1.90 crore. Lanning had led DC to the WPL final in all three previous seasons and was released by the franchise ahead of the mega auction. She has scored 952 runs in 27 WPL matches.

South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt was signed for Rs. 1.10 crore by DC. There was a bidding war between the Delhi Capitals and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but the Capitals bought her. She had spent the last two WPL seasons with the Gujarat Giants and has scored 342 runs in 13 matches.

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone was bought by UP Warriorz for Rs. 85 lakh. They used their Right to Match (RTM) option to get her back after the Delhi Capitals had initially won the final bid. DC raised the bid to Rs. 85 lakh, which the Warriorz matched.

India fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur has been signed by Gujarat Giants for Rs 60 lakh. She won the WPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024, and was also part of the Indian side that won the 2025 ODI World Cup.

West Indies all-rounder Chinelle Henry went to the Delhi Capitals for Rs. 1.30 crore. RCB and DC were involved in the bidding war as the price jumped from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 60 lakh quickly. RCB later held the bid at Rs 1.2 crore, but just as the hammer was about to go down, DC bought the all-rounder at Rs. 1.3 crore. After a brief discussion, UP Warriorz chose not to use its RTM.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also confirmed that the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will be played in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara from 9 January to 5 February. WPL chairman Jayesh George announced the dates and venues after delivering the opening address at the WPL mega auction in New Delhi on Thursday, 27 November.