The highly anticipated Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction is set to take place in Bangalore on December 15, as per reports. This comes after the IPL 2025 mega auction was recently conducted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Unlike its male counterpart, the Women’s Premier League auction remains on home soil, promising excitement as teams prepare to finalize their rosters for the upcoming season.
Key Highlights of the WPL 2025 Auction
- Date and Venue: The auction is reportedly scheduled for December 15 in Bangalore. Official confirmation is still awaited.
- Team Budgets: Gujarat Giants enter the auction with the largest budget of ₹4.40 crore, while Delhi Capitals have the smallest purse of ₹2.50 crore.
- Slots Available: A total of 19 players will be added to WPL rosters, with 5 slots reserved for international players.
Teams’ Retained Players and Remaining Budgets
Ahead of the auction, all five WPL teams released their list of retained players. Here’s a breakdown of the teams, their retained players, and the money left for the auction.
Delhi Capitals
- Budget Remaining: ₹2.50 crore
- Retained Players:
- Alice Capsey
- Annabel Sutherland
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Meg Lanning
- Shafali Verma
- Radha Yadav
- Shikha Pandey
The Capitals have opted to retain a core squad featuring international stars like Lanning and promising Indian players like Jemimah and Shafali.
Gujarat Giants
- Budget Remaining: ₹4.40 crore (highest among all teams)
- Retained Players:
- Ashleigh Gardner
- Beth Mooney
- Harleen Deol
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Dayalan Hemlata
With a strong budget and a mix of experienced all-rounders and batters, the Giants are in a great position to dominate the auction.
Mumbai Indians
- Budget Remaining: ₹2.64 crore
- Retained Players:
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Natalie Sciver
- Hayley Matthews
- Saika Ishaque
- Amelia Kerr
Mumbai’s retained players include powerhouses like Sciver and Matthews, alongside Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, ensuring a balanced lineup.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Budget Remaining: ₹3.20 crore
- Retained Players:
- Smriti Mandhana
- Sophie Devine
- Ellyse Perry
- Richa Ghosh
- Renuka Singh
RCB continues to bank on big names like Mandhana, Perry, and Devine, aiming for a strong show in WPL 2025.
UP Warriorz
- Budget Remaining: ₹3.90 crore
- Retained Players:
- Alyssa Healy
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Deepti Sharma
- Tahlia McGrath
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad
With a mix of world-class bowlers like Ecclestone and dependable all-rounders like Deepti, UP Warriorz are well-prepared for a competitive season.
Auction Strategy: What to Expect
Focus on Overseas Talent
The auction will see teams vying for top international stars to fill the 5 foreign player slots available. All-rounders and pacers are expected to be in high demand.
Strengthening Key Areas
While teams like Gujarat Giants have more flexibility with their budget, others like Delhi Capitals will need to carefully strategize their picks to maximize the value of their limited funds.
Young Indian Talent
Expect franchises to invest in young and emerging Indian players to build long-term squads, ensuring a balance between experience and potential.
WPL’s Rapid Growth: A Game-Changer for Women’s Cricket
The WPL has played a crucial role in boosting women’s cricket globally. The auction is not just a platform for teams to strengthen their squads but also a golden opportunity for emerging players to showcase their talent on a global stage.
With the addition of technical staff and robust planning, the Women’s Premier League 2025 promises to be even more competitive and entertaining. Fans eagerly await the action to unfold, starting with the auction in December.
