The Women’s Premier League has given young cricketers a chance to join franchise teams. Five players stand out because of their ages when they were selected: Uma Kashvi, Sonam Yadav, Shabnam Shakil, Deeya Yadav and G Kamalini. Their auction stories include base-price signings, a major bidding contest and a later change of franchise. Each player entered the competition at a young age, while their paths after selection have included development roles and opportunities in other teams.
Uma Kashvi – 15 Years and 202 Days
Uma Kashvi was 15 years and 202 days old when Delhi Capitals signed her for ₹10 lakh at the WPL 2027 auction. She was initially unsold during the main rounds, but Delhi returned to her name in the accelerated auction and secured her at her base price. The spin-bowling all-rounder is from Karnataka and is a new face in the WPL setup. Before joining the squad, she impressed in an Under-19 series against Sri Lanka, where she claimed 6 wickets. Her selection came after that performance, and she now has an opportunity to join the tournament.
Sonam Yadav – 15 Years and 210 Days
Mumbai Indians bought Sonam Yadav for ₹10 lakh at the inaugural WPL auction in 2023, when she was 15 years and 210 days old. The left-arm orthodox spinner joined the franchise after India’s historic U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup triumph. She became part of a competitive Mumbai squad that went on to win the championship. Sonam played a limited number of games, taking a developmental role within the team, but gained experience. She was part of the squad under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership.
Shabnam Shakil – 15 Years and 241 Days
Shabnam Shakil was 15 years and 241 days old when Gujarat Giants signed her for ₹10 lakh during the 2023 auction. The fast bowler from Andhra was viewed as a promising domestic player. In her early WPL seasons, she served as a backup quick while continuing to develop her game. Her progress brought opportunities beyond franchise cricket, and she earned a consistent place in India ‘A’ squads. These selections included multi-format series against England ‘A’ and Australia ‘A’, giving her experience at another level.
Deeya Yadav – 16 Years and 49 Days
Deeya Yadav was 16 years and 49 days old when Delhi Capitals picked her for ₹10 lakh ahead of the 2026 season. The franchise later retained her at the same valuation, continuing to back the young batter. She is known for her aggressive and fearless batting at the top of the order for Haryana and North Zone. Delhi brought her into the squad to add depth to its domestic batting options and provide another attacking choice. Retaining her at the same price kept her within the team setup.
G Kamalini – 16 Years and 148 Days
G Kamalini was 16 years and 148 days old when Mumbai Indians signed her in 2024 after a major bidding contest, paying ₹1.60 crore. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter helped MI win the WPL title. Across 10 WPL innings, she scored 104 runs, with a highest score of 32. Her performances were followed by a senior India national T20I debut at just 17 years old. After two seasons, Mumbai released her due to tournament scheduling overlaps, and Gujarat Giants later bought her for ₹40 lakh.
These five players entered the WPL at ages ranging from 15 years and 202 days to 16 years and 148 days. Uma Kashvi, Sonam Yadav, Shabnam Shakil and Deeya Yadav each joined their teams for ₹10 lakh, while Kamalini’s first contract was worth ₹1.60 crore before her later move to Gujarat Giants for ₹40 lakh. Their journeys show different auction circumstances, from a late accelerated-round signing to a major bidding contest. Their early selection led to different roles and further opportunities in cricket.
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