The second annual player auction of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the 2024 edition is scheduled to be held on Saturday, December 9, in Mumbai. A total of 165 shortlisted players will go under the hammer, vying for a maximum of 30 spots across five franchises – Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Among the 165 players, 104 are Indians and 64 overseas, including 15 players from associate nations. The overseas player slots are limited, with only nine available, six of which are shared between Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore. There are a total of 56 capped players and 109 uncapped players.
Moreover, the teams that excelled in the inaugural edition of the WPL, Mumbai Indians (13), Delhi Capitals (15), and UP Warriorz (13) have kept the core of their squads intact retaining a majority of their players. In contrast, Gujarat Giants released more than half of their 18-member squad, while Royal Challengers Bangalore parted ways with half of their overseas players.
Remaining purse for all five teams in WPL
Each of the five teams participating in this year’s Women’s Premier League auction has received an additional amount of INR 1.5 crore. Gujarat Giants, with the maximum available slots (10), boasts the highest purse of INR 5.95 crore for the upcoming auction. UP Warriorz, with only five slots to fill, have INR 4 crore at their disposal, while Royal Challengers Bangalore holds a budget of INR 3.35 crore to fill their seven vacancies. DC and MI ahave the smallest purses.
Former West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin and Australia’s Kim Garth have registered for the auction with the highest base price of INR 50 Lakh. Four foreign players have set their base price at INR 40 Lakh each. This group includes Australian all-rounders Annabel Sutherland and Georgia Wareham, South African pacer Shabnim Ismal, and English keeper Amy Jones. Notably, the stage is set for an exhilarating auction with substantial financial resources and notable players up for grabs.