For 30-year-old batter Nazma Khan, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 mini-auction in Kochi delivered more than a contract; it fulfilled a wish she had once sent directly to Jemimah Rodrigues. Picked up by Delhi Capitals for ₹10 lakh on 28 October at the Grand Hyatt, Nazma will now share the field with the player she had hoped to challenge, turning a year-old Instagram message into one of the auction’s most heartwarming stories.
Before the auction, Delhi Capitals had committed ₹13.90 crore in retentions, leaving them with ₹1.10 crore and five squad slots, including one overseas position. They used ₹1.05 crore across four signings, finishing with ₹5 lakh unspent, forming a squad of 17 players for the upcoming season.
The franchise’s biggest purchase was Kiran Navgire, secured for ₹75 lakh. Delhi then added promising young batter Kashvi Kandikuppa, Nazma Khan and Scotland spinner Kirstie Gordon for ₹10 lakh each. Gordon offers an additional overseas associate spin option, while the Indian arrivals deepen a squad already featuring Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani, Niki Prasad, Sree Charani, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandni Sharma and Deeya Yadav.
For Nazma, though, the moment carried a personal weight beyond the auction paddle. She had earlier messaged Jemimah about wanting to play alongside her and be part of a winning team, hoping the India batter would eventually see it. A year later, Jemimah opened Instagram intending to text Nazma, and instead found that old message. “Opened Instagram just now to text Nazma and stumbled upon a message from her a year ago. One year later, the manifestation is real. Welcome to the family,” Jemimah wrote while sharing the screenshot on her Instagram story.
Delhi Capitals leaned into the emotion, posting: “Reminder that manifestation works. Keep trying. Never stop believing. It will all work out in the end.” It was a fitting message for a player whose persistence has now been rewarded with a place in the league’s fifth season.
Nazma’s signing also reflects Delhi’s blend of experience and opportunity. At 30, she brings maturity to a batting group led by Jemimah, while Kashvi Kandikuppa became the youngest player ever picked at a WPL auction at 15 years and 202 days, an indication of the franchise’s willingness to invest in cricket’s next generation.
The upcoming Tata WPL’s fifth edition will run from 14 January to 7 February 2027. When Delhi Capitals take the field aiming for the elusive WPL title after being the runners-up of the tournament since the inaugural edition in 2023, Nazma will no longer be sending messages into the digital void; she will be standing beside Jemimah, living out the very scenario she once imagined.
Her journey is a reminder that auction day is not only about price tags and squad balance. Sometimes, it is about a message finally being answered, and a dream finally getting its chance.
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