Royal Challengers Bengaluru. (Photo Source: WPL)
The coveted Women’s Premier League (WPL) is all set for a mini-auction on December 15, in Bengaluru. With franchises equipped with increased budgets from previous seasons, the upcoming auction will see some big acquisitions.
Each team now has a total budget of INR 15 crore, an increase from the INR 13.5 crore allocation in the previous season. The auction’s spotlight will be mostly on several international cricket talents. England captain Heather Knight, New Zealand’s pace sensation Lea Tahuhu, and West Indies’ allrounder, Deandra Dottin, headline the international talent pool.
On the domestic front, Indian cricketers like allrounder Sneh Rana, legspinner Poonam Yadav, and batter Veda Krishnamurthy are also expected to generate considerable interest. Delhi Capitals, led by Meg Lanning and runners-up in the past two seasons, will operate with the smallest purse of INR 2.5 crores. Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants, who have struggled in the first two editions, come with the most substantial budget of INR 4.4 crore.
Also Read: WPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women retained players, released players and purse remaining ahead of auction
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have a purse of INR 3.25 crore and a mix of star players like Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine, they’ve released seven players, including Heather Knight. The team has also secured England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge through an all-cash trade from UP Warriorz.
WPL 2025 edition to be played in February next year
The third edition of the WPL is set to be played over a three-week window in February-March 2025. Looking ahead, the tournament is scheduled to find a new window in January-February from 2026, aligned with the new women’s Future Tours Programme for the 2025-29 cycle. While the inaugural season was held entirely in Mumbai and the second season spread across Bengaluru and New Delhi, the BCCI is looking to gradually expand to different venues.