The Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction is scheduled to take place in Bangalore on December 15, 2024, ahead of the third edition. Recently, the teams announced their retention list ahead of the WPL 2025. As we gear up for the WPL auction, it’s an exciting time to reflect on the most expensive players in the history of WPL. In this article, we will go through the top five most expensive players in the history of the WPL.
Most Expensive Players in WPL History:
1) Smriti Mandhana: ₹3.4 Crore (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
One of India’s premiere batting talents, Smriti Mandhana is the most expensive player in the WPL auction and was also the most expensive player in the inaugural edition of the WPL in 2023. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured the services of Smriti for a staggering ₹3.4 Crore. This was a significant moment as RCB outbid teams like Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians to secure the star Indian opener. Smriti was announced as the team’s captain and was also the face of the franchise who also successfully led RCB to their maiden WPL title.
2) Ashleigh Gardner: ₹3.2 Crore (Gujarat Giants)
Ashleigh Gardner, known for her all-around capabilities, is second in the list and was roped in by Gujarat Giants for ₹3.2 Crore. The Australian all-rounder became the second-joint most expensive player. However, it was Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz who were involved in intense bidding before Gujarat Giants acquired Ashleigh Gardener for INR 3.2 Crore. The Australian spin-bowling all-rounder was vital both with bat & ball, scoring 204 runs with the bat & scalping 10 wickets.
3) Nat Sciver-Brunt: ₹3.2 Crore (Mumbai Indians)
The second joint-most expensive player alongside Ashleigh Gardner is England’s all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt. Mumbai Indians were the winning bidders to secure the services of Nat Sciver-Brunt. The English all-rounder was secured for ₹3.2 Crore in the inaugural edition of WPL. Her experience was invaluable as she made a notable mark with her all-round ability. With the bat, she scored 332 runs & claimed 10 wickets in Mumbai Indians’ title-winning season in the first edition.
4) Deepti Sharma- ₹2.6 CR (UP Warriorz)
India’s leading all-rounder, Deepti Sharma was picked by UP Warriorz in the inaugural edition of the WPL. Known for her cool demeanor and ability under pressure, Deepti Shama became the second-most expensive Indian player in the history of WPL and fourth most expensive player. Though Deepti had a mediocre performance in the inaugural edition, the spin-bowling all-rounder had a splendid performance scoring 295 runs with the bat & scalping 10 wickets in the following season.
5) Jemimah Rodrigues- ₹2.2 CR (Delhi Capitals)
India’s talented middle-order batter, Jemimah Rodrigues was secured by the Delhi Capitals for ₹2.2 CR during the inaugural edition of the WPL. The right-handed top-order batter from Mumbai became the third most expensive Indian player and the most expensive player for the Delhi Capitals.
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