SportsPosted at: Oct 29 2026 6:54PM


Molineux tops WPL auction at Rs 1.1 crore, joins UP Warriorz

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Australia captain Sophie Molineux emerged as the biggest buy at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction in Kochi on Wednesday, joining UP Warriorz for INR 1.1 crore. India batter Kiran Navgire was the most expensive Indian player, with Delhi Capitals securing her services for Rs 75 lakh.
Molineux attracted a bidding contest between UP Warriorz and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who pulled out at Rs 1.05 crore. UPW eventually won the race for the Australian allrounder, who led her country to their seventh T20 World Cup title in July and has also been their leading wicket-taker this year.
RCB, who went through the first 10 sets without making a purchase, strengthened their squad in the accelerated round by signing Australia allrounder Jess Jonassen for her base price of Rs 40 lakh and South Africa’s Chloe Tryon for Rs 30 lakh. Grace Harris, released by RCB before the auction, returned to UP Warriorz for Rs 30 lakh.
UPW were the busiest team, filling all eight of their available slots after entering the auction with Rs 3.75 crore. Their cricket director Kshemal Waingankar said Molineux and Harris would give the side greater flexibility.
“(We were going to get Molineux) at any cost," Waingankar said. He added that Molineux’s leadership and bowling, combined with Harris’s power-hitting, would allow the team to experiment with different combinations.
UPW also signed India allrounders Sneh Rana and wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma for Rs 30 lakh each, as well as Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce for Rs 10 lakh. Rana, who has represented RCB, Gujarat Giants and Delhi Capitals, said she was excited to play under Meg Lanning and reunite with Deepti Sharma. Scotland’s Kirstie Gordon joined Delhi Capitals for Rs 10 lakh. Both Scotland players can be fielded as an additional overseas player because the country is an Associate member.
Gujarat Giants picked India wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini for Rs 40 lakh after her previous two seasons with Mumbai Indians. Ireland allrounder Orla Prendergast also joined Gujarat for Rs 30 lakh, while uncapped 16-year-old Samaira Raghav was bought for Rs 10 lakh. Delhi Capitals signed 15-year-old Karnataka allrounder Uma Kashvi for Rs 10 lakh, making her the youngest player sold at a WPL auction.
Twelve of the 25 players sold were uncapped Indian cricketers. Mumbai Indians, who had only Rs 90 lakh left to spend, bought six uncapped players, including Shweta Sehrawat, Akshita Bhagat and Disha Kasat.
MI head coach Luke Williams said the franchise wanted to add depth to an already established core, with options available for different playing conditions and in case of injuries or loss of form.
A total of 25 of the 27 available slots were filled, leaving one each at RCB and Delhi Capitals. Out-of-favour India pacer Titas Sadhu went unsold in the first round of the auction while former Mumbai Indians spinner Saika Ishaque also met the same fate. Keeper-batter Taniya Bhatia, and young stumper Uma Chetry also didn't have any takers. England's top order batter Sophia Dunkley, who has played in the past for Gujarat Giants, also went unsold. The biggest surprise in the list of unsold players was Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu.
Players bought:
Delhi Capitals: Kiran Navgire (INR 75 lakh), Uma Kashvi (INR 10 lakh), Kirstie Gordon (INR 10 lakh), Nazma Khan (INR 10 lakh)
Gujarat Giants: G Kamalini (INR 40 lakh), Orla Prendergast (INR 30 lakh), Samaira Raghav (10 lakh)
Mumbai Indians: Disha Kasat (INR 10 lakh), Latika Inamdar (INR 10 lakh), Bharti Rawal (INR 10 lakh), Sanika Chalke (INR 10 lakh), Shweta Sehrawat (INR 20 lakh), Akshita Bhagat (INR 10 lakh)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jess Jonassen (INR 40 lakh), Tejal Hasabnis (INR 30 lakh), Vrinda Dinesh (INR 10 lakh), Chloe Tryon (INR 30 lakh)
UP Warriorz: Sophie Molineux (INR 1.10 crore), Sneh Rana (INR 30 lakh), Grace Harris (INR 30 lakh), Sushma Verma (INR 30 lakh), Kathryn Bryce (INR 10 lakh), Manali Dakshini (INR 10 lakh), Sahana Pawar (INR 10 lakh), S Asha (INR 30 lakh)UNI TB AAB
Tags: #Molineux tops WPL auction at Rs 1.1 crore# joins UP Warriorz
More News

Ranji Trophy: Pramanik's maiden 10-wicket haul powers Bengal to third straight win

29 Oct 2026 | 7:02 PM

Kolkata, Oct 29 (UNI) Bengal strengthened their hold on top spot in Ranji Trophy Elite Group C after spinner Pradipta Pramanik claimed his maiden 10-wicket match haul in a commanding 287-run victory over Kerala on Thursday. Shahbaz Ahmed also delivered a decisive all-round performance as Bengal completed their third successive win of the season.

see more..

Molineux tops WPL auction at Rs 1 1 crore, joins UP Warriorz

29 Oct 2026 | 6:54 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Australia captain Sophie Molineux emerged as the biggest buy at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction in Kochi on Wednesday, joining UP Warriorz for INR 1.1 crore. India batter Kiran Navgire was the most expensive Indian player, with Delhi Capitals securing her services for Rs 75 lakh.

see more..

Delhi breach 260-run mark to set new record in women's domestic T20s

29 Oct 2026 | 6:27 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Delhi rewrote the record books in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, piling up 262 for 6 against Hyderabad in Pune to register the highest total by any women's team in domestic T20 cricket.

see more..

Hylo Open: Sindhu, Lakshya advance; Prannoy crashes out

29 Oct 2026 | 6:19 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI): PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen began their BWF Hylo Open campaigns with victories on Wednesday, joining several other Indian shuttlers in the second round of the Super 500 tournament in Saarbrucken. However, HS Prannoy failed to progress after losing to France’s sixth seed Toma Junior Popov in straight games.

see more..

Mumbai Indians part ways with Malinga, Mhambrey and Hopkinson

29 Oct 2026 | 5:40 PM

New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have made further changes to their coaching staff, parting ways with bowling coaches Lasith Malinga and Parash Mhambrey, along with fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, as the franchise reshapes its support team ahead of IPL 2027.

see more..