After the conclusion of the IPL mega-auction last month, it’s time for the Women's Premier League (WPL) to take centre stage, as teams assembled in Bengaluru to bolster their squad on December 15, 2024. Unlike the IPL, not many marquee names were in the auction pool, as they were already retained by their respective franchises. As compared to last year's auction, where the Indian batter Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive buy at ₹3.4 crores, this time the costliest buy only went for ₹1.9 crores. During the WPL auction in 2023, three cricketers went over a price tag of ₹3 crores and six over ₹2 crores. Two of the most expensive buys this year were secured by Gujarat Giants. We look at five of the most expensive hauls in the WPL 2025 auction.
5 Most Expensive Players of the WPL 2025 Auction
Simran Shaikh - ₹1.90 crore (Gujarat Giants)
Mumbai's Simran Shaikh fetched the highest bid of ₹1.90 crore from Gujarat Giants, making her the costliest player of the WPL 2025 auction. The 22-year-old middle-order batter, who grew up in Dharavi, Mumbai, previously played for UP Warriorz in the 2023 WPL season. She ended up scoring 176 runs in 11 matches for Mumbai at an average of 22 and a strike rate of 100.57 during the Senior Women's T20 Trophy held in October-November this year. "I was watching auctions. I was waiting for my name to come. I hoped some team will take me. I was very happy. I was shocked. I was not expecting this," Simran told JioCinema.
Deandra Dottin - ₹1.70 crore- (Gujarat Giants)
Deandra Dottin, the iconic Caribbean player, was the first name to pop up in auction, at the base price of ₹50 lac. She was eventually sold to Gujarat Titans for a sum of ₹1.70 crore, thus becoming the highest-paid foreign player. With 123 T20 International appearances under her belt, Dottin is expected to strengthen the top order of the Gujarat-based franchise. Dottin made history as the first woman to score a century in T20 Internationals, achieving this feat against South Africa during the 2010 T20 World Cup with a blistering 38-ball hundred. This remains the fastest T20I century scored by a woman to date.
G Kamalini - ₹1.60 crore (Mumbai Indians)
G Kamalini is an all-rounder from Tamil Nadu who has been making waves in the domestic circuit and reaped rich rewards for her consistency in the WPL auction. Kamalini had a base price of just ₹10 lakh but she triggered a bidding war among franchises and was sold to Mumbai Indians for ₹1.6 crore.
Prema Rawat - ₹1.20 crore (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Royal Challengers Bangalore went big on Prema Rawat, splurging ₹1.20 crore for an uncapped Indian all-rounder who has shown great ability with both bat and ball. Prema's stocks have risen ever since scored a match-winning knock in the final of UP T20 League. She is also a willy leg-spinner, picking up 54 wickets in 49 games.
N Charani - ₹55 Lakh (Delhi Capitals)
After missing out on Prema Rawat, Delhi Capitals decided to go after N Charani, and acquired her at a relatively modest sum of ₹55 Lakh. Charani is a right-handed batter and left-handed bowler who can hit boundaries with ease.
