Bengaluru: The WPL 2025 Auction took place in Benglauru on Sunday, capturing the attention of cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Franchise cricket has transformed into a global spectacle, with its auctions being one of the most anticipated events in the sport. This year’s WPL auction was no exception, with teams investing heavily in players to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.
The WPL 2025 Mini Auction Highlights
This year’s auction featured a player pool of 124 cricketers, including 91 Indians and 29 overseas players, vying for spots in five franchises: Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz.
Some players drew substantial bids, reflecting their talent and the growing popularity of women’s cricket. Mumbai cricketer Simran Shaikh emerged as the most expensive player, with Gujarat Giants securing her services for $224,000. Veteran West Indies star Deandra Dottin also commanded attention, fetching a bid of $200,000 from the same franchise.
The auction reaffirmed the WPL’s status as a major force in women’s sports, with the league generating $570 million from franchise bids and $110 million from broadcast rights. This makes the WPL the world’s second most valuable women’s sports league, ranking just behind the WNBA.
Highest-Paid Women’s Cricketers in WPL 2025
Here are the top-earning players from the mini auction:
- Smriti Mandhana (Bengaluru) – ₹34M ($400,000)
- Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat) – ₹32M ($377,000)
- Natalie Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai) – ₹32M ($377,000)
- Deepti Sharma (UP) – ₹26M ($306,000)
- Jemimah Rodrigues (Delhi) – ₹22M ($260,000)
- Beth Mooney (Gujarat) – ₹20M ($235,000)
- Shafali Verma (Delhi) – ₹20M ($235,000)
- Annabel Sutherland (Delhi) – ₹20M ($235,000)
- Kashvee Gautam (Gujarat) – ₹20M ($235,000)
- Pooja Vastrakar (Mumbai) – ₹19M ($224,000)
- Richa Ghosh (Bengaluru) – ₹19M ($224,000)
- Simran Shaikh (Gujarat) – ₹19M ($224,000)
- Sophie Ecclestone (UP) – ₹18M ($212,000)
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai) – ₹18M ($212,000)
- Deandra Dottin (Gujarat) – ₹17M ($200,000)
- Ellyse Perry (Bengaluru) – ₹17M ($200,000)
- G Kamilini (Mumbai) – ₹16M ($188,000)
- Renuka Singh (Bengaluru) – ₹15M ($176,000)
- Yastika Bhatia (Mumbai) – ₹15M ($176,000)
- Marizanne Kapp (Delhi) – ₹15M ($176,000)
The Growing Impact of the WPL
The Women’s Premier League continues to play a vital role in advancing women’s cricket, offering players not only financial rewards but also a global platform to showcase their skills. As the 2025 season approaches, fans eagerly await high-stakes matches featuring these star players.
This year’s auction has demonstrated the league’s ability to attract significant investment and grow its fanbase, ensuring an exciting future for women’s cricket.