The countdown to the much-awaited Women's Premier League (WPL) has begun. The five franchises have been busy at work finalizing their strategies in preparation for the WPL's October 28, 2026, opening ceremony in Kochi. With 27 roster spots up for grabs, fans and critics alike are eagerly waiting to see which star players will join the teams for the upcoming season.

A total of 146 players have made it to the final list, including veteran international stars and young homegrown talents looking to make a mark in franchise cricket.

A Breakdown of the 2027 WPL Auction Pool

The pool of contenders for the WPL 2027 auction is a true index of the rising popularity of women's sports worldwide. While the majority of the 146 contenders were local stars, a few overseas sensations will also be up for grabs.

Total Shortlisted Players: 146

Indian Players: 119 (22 Capped, 97 Uncapped)

Overseas Players: 27 (14 Capped, 13 Uncapped (6 from Associate Nations))

Total Available Slots: 27

Date & Time: October 28, 2026, 5:30 PM IST, Kochi

The Hottest Names: Top Base Prices

While the auction will see a variety of prices ranging from ₹50 lakh down to ₹10 lakh, the top bracket has only two names, both of which are overseas superstars who will make for the best bidding wars.

Spotlight on the Headliners

1. The ₹50 Lakh Tier: The Heavyweights

Only two players have commanded the maximum reserve price of ₹50 lakh

Sophie Molineux: The gritty Australian all-rounder, recently released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), brings fierce spin bowling and dependable lower-order grit.

Sophia Dunkley: The dynamic England batter is expected to trigger fierce competition among franchises looking for aggressive power at the top of the order.

2. The ₹40 Lakh Tier: Experience and Versatility

Four players anchor the second-highest tier, featuring proven international commodities and promising domestic talent:

3. The ₹30 Lakh Tier: The Tactical Core

The ₹30 lakh bracket forms the tactical core of the auction with 30 players who have multi-dimensional utility.

Batters & All-rounders: Familiar names like Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris, Sneh Rana, Chloe Tryon, Anjali Sarvani, and rising talents such as Raghvi Bist and Tejal Hasabnis.

Wicketkeepers: Taniyaa Bhatia, Uma Chetry, Nuzhat Parween, and Sushma Verma.

Bowlers: A strong spin and pace contingent featuring Titas Sadhu, Tayla Vlaeminck, Saika Ishaque, Asha Sobhana, Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Devika Vaidya.

4. The ₹10–20 Lakh Tiers: The Future Uncapped Stars

While the ₹20 lakh bracket contains a meager four players (Yashasri S, Tanisha Ohlan, Yashasvi Katta, and Triveni Vashistha) on the contrary, the ₹10 bracket is a hotbed for future icons. With 106 players, it has a huge assembly of domestic wunderkinds, hard-hitting uncapped batters, clever variations in the bowling department (such as Shabnam Shakil and Parunika Sisodia) and a long list of utility all-rounders looking for their breakout moment.

The Final Countdown

As the clock ticks down to October 28 at 5:30 PM IST team management rooms in Kochi are burning the midnight oil. With tight purse restrictions and only 27 slots remaining across all five franchises strategic planning, tactical bidding and composure under pressure will see who walks away with a championship-winning squad.