WPL 2026 Auction highlights: Deepti Sharma tops charts as costliest buy; Sree Charani and Amelia Kerr bag massive deals

WPL 2026 Auction highlights: Star India all-rounder Deepti Sharma became the most expensive signing of the 2026 WPL mega auction, while ODI World Cup standouts Shree Charani and Laura Wolvaardt also secured lucrative deals on Thursday.

Deepti was always expected to attract top dollar, and UP Warriorz ensured she stayed with them by using the Right to Match (RTM) card, securing the experienced all-rounder for Rs 3.20 crore. With this deal, she now stands as the second-highest-paid Indian player in WPL history, just Rs 20 lakh behind Smriti Mandhana.

"We definitely expected her price to be in this range. It’s the premium you pay for a high-quality spin-bowling all-rounder, and there was no doubt we wanted Deepti back," said Kshemal Waingankar, Director of Cricket Operations, UP Warriorz.

Mumbai Indians made another marquee signing, bringing back New Zealand star Amelia Kerr for Rs 3 crore. The 25-year-old has been instrumental in MI’s title-winning seasons in 2023 and 2025.

UP Warriorz made a bold call by spending Rs 2.40 crore on veteran India all-rounder Shikha Pandey, who last represented India in 2023.

India’s left-arm spinner Charani, a major force in the nation’s recent World Cup triumph, was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs 1.30 crore—more than four times her base price—after a strong bidding contest with the Warriorz.

Delhi Capitals stayed aggressive throughout, outbidding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to sign South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt for Rs 1.10 crore, securing West Indies batter Chinelle Henry for Rs 1.30 crore, and adding India all-rounder Sneh Rana for Rs 50 lakh.

"In Laura, we’ve got a tremendous player who can bring leadership, but we remain clear we want to continue with an Indian captain," DC co-owner Parth Jindal said.

With the biggest purse of Rs 14.5 crore, UP Warriorz were highly active. Along with Deepti, they exercised RTM cards to retain young World Cup-winning pacer Kranti Gaud for Rs 50 lakh and England star Sophie Ecclestone for Rs 85 lakh. They also strengthened their Indian core by signing Harleen Deol for her base price of Rs 50 lakh.

Elsewhere, Gujarat Giants secured India pacer Renuka Singh for Rs 60 lakh, while RCB picked up South African power-hitter Nadine de Klerk for Rs 65 lakh along with Indian all-rounders Arundhati Reddy (Rs 75 lakh) and Radha Yadav (Rs 65 lakh).

Among the marquee names, Sophie Devine went to Gujarat Giants for Rs 2 crore, while UP Warriorz snatched up Meg Lanning — who guided Delhi Capitals to three straight finals — for Rs 1.90 crore after a heated bidding war with DC.

The Warriorz also reinforced their overseas batting strength by acquiring rising Australian talent Phoebe Litchfield for Rs 1.20 crore.