WPL auction 2026: Deepti Sharma goes for second-biggest fee but Alyssa Healy unsold

The 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) auction saw Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma become the second-most expensive player in league history, securing a deal worth 3.2 crore Indian rupees (approximately £272,000). The Australian captain Alyssa Healy, on the other hand, was the only player left unsold, as England's Sophie Ecclestone returned to UP Warriorz for a significantly lower fee.

The most expensive signing of the auction belonged to New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, who rejoined Mumbai Indians at 3 crore Indian rupees (approximately £226,000). Australia's Meg Lanning also joined the Warriorz, while South African captain Laura Wolvaardt went to Delhi Capitals. However, it is worth noting that their co-owner has hinted that they would prefer an Indian captain for the team.

The auction saw several other high-profile signings, including England seamer Lauren Bell and spinner Linsey Smith going to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge joins Gujarat Giants. India bowler Shikha Pandey was the surprise recipient of a third-biggest contract, signing with Warriorz for 2.4 crore Indian rupees (approximately £192,000).

Several Indian players also signed with various teams, including batters Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal, seamer Kranti Gaud, and spinner Shree Charani. The England players not picked included Heather Knight, Amy Jones, and Sophia Dunkley.

The tournament is scheduled to take place earlier than usual between 9 January and 5 February next year. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in featuring top women's players in its upcoming T20 league.

I'm intrigued by the WPL auction results . It seems like a lot of high-profile players are joining various teams, which could make for some exciting matches! I mean, Deepti Sharma becoming the second-most expensive player is quite impressive - 3.2 crore Indian rupees is no joke . And it's interesting to see how the teams are shaping up. The fact that England's Sophie Ecclestone returned to UP Warriorz for a lower fee suggests that some teams are willing to offer contracts to their own players first .

On a more neutral note, I wonder what this will mean for Indian cricket in terms of player development and women's cricket as a whole . Will this increased investment lead to better performances from the Indian team? Only time will tell .

Ugh, I'm telling ya, back in my day we didn't need all these fancy auctions to get the girls on the pitch! Now it's like they're playing for our money . Deepti Sharma making 3.2 crore? That's just crazy talk ! And what's with all these foreign players coming in? Don't get me wrong, I love a good Aussie or Kiwi batswoman as much as the next person , but can't we just have some Indian talent on our own teams for once? It's like they're trying to recreate the national team with all these imports... anyway, it'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out in 2026!

I'm so stoked about the WPL auction! I mean, Deepti Sharma just smashed it with that 3.2 crore deal ! And it's awesome to see some of our talented Indian cricketers getting a chance to shine in the league. The fact that Shikha Pandey got signed for a decent amount is also super exciting . I love how the auction is bringing together so many talented players from around the world - it's going to be an epic season! And who knows, maybe we'll see some international teams participate in the Saudi Arabia T20 league? That would be amazing!

omg u guys!! the wpl auction is low-key insane deepti sharma just broke records with that 3.2 crore deal and i'm literally shipping her to warriorz already meanwhile, alyssa healy got snubbed and i feel bad for her cuz she's such an awesome captain but anyway, amelia kerr is back in mumbai indians and that's a whole lotta excitement & what's up with the delhi capitals wanting an indian captain? anyways, can't wait for the 2026 wpl to kick off

omg can't believe the prices these cricketers are getting! Deepti Sharma is like a superstar now with that deal she's going to crush it on the field and it's so cool to see Indian women's cricket getting more recognition . That Amelia Kerr though, 3 crore rupees? what's next, India's gonna have its own WPL league?! also would love to see more Indian players in the top leagues, it'd be awesome to see them compete against each other . can't wait for that tournament next year!

omg i feel like the WPL auction was so nerve-wracking for all these talented cricketers!!! Deepti Sharma must be super relieved that she got such a great deal 3.2 crore is no joke! it's crazy to see Amelia Kerr and Meg Lanning go back to Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals respectively but i do feel bad for Alyssa Healy who got left out in the auction hopefully she finds another team that'll give her the love she deserves

OMG I cant believe Deepti Sharma got the most expensive contract ever! And Alyssa Healy went unsold is kinda crazy guess she wont be playing for India this season but on the other hand, its so exciting to see new players joining teams and seeing the talent pool grow cant wait for the tournament in Jan next year!

Ugh, what's with these prices?! Back in my day, we didn't need all this cash to play cricket. I mean, I know it's a great sport and all, but can't they just focus on the game instead of making a fortune off their skills? And don't even get me started on the auction process... who gets to decide these prices?! It feels like they're more worried about brand deals than actual player development. I guess it's all part of progress, but sometimes I just wish we could go back to a simpler time...

Ugh, this auction is just rigged for the Indians, right? They're buying up all the good talent while leaving us Aussies to pick from the scraps . I mean, Alyssa Healy is literally the best player in the world and she gets left out because of some petty money matters? It's like the whole league is against her . And don't even get me started on Deepti Sharma's price tag - 3.2 crore is insane! She'll just overperform and break the bank, like most Indian players do . I swear, the auction committee has it out for everyone else except our Aussie girls .

I'm literally shaking right now!!! India just spent a fortune on the WPL auction and I'm still trying to process it all! Deepti Sharma for 3.2 crore is insane, I mean, I get it she's a great player, but come on! And Alyssa Healy going unsold is heartbreaking, Sophie Ecclestone was robbed of her chance at the Warriorz. I'm loving the moves by Mumbai Indians getting Amelia Kerr back though, she's gonna bring that fire to the league

just thinking about all these talented women cricketers getting paid so much for playing their sport is crazy... like what can you even get for that kinda cash? and i gotta say, it's pretty interesting how some teams are already eyeing an indian captain for their squad... seems like they want someone with a bit more experience leading the charge . but hey, good on india producing so many great players - we're gonna crush it in that wpl next year!

Man I'm loving the WPL so far this season . The way they're building their teams is super interesting, especially with all these big-name players joining up. But what really caught my attention was that they've got some Indian players who are killing it on the auction board . I mean Deepti Sharma's deal was insane for 3.2 crore - that's like a small fortune!

And can we talk about how hard it must be for these women to compete in the same space as their male counterparts? I feel like there's so much more at play here than just cricket. The politics, the sponsorships, the media attention... it's all so intense .

But anyway, back to the WPL - I'm hyped to see how this season unfolds . The early start in January is gonna be crazy, but I think it'll actually bring some fresh energy to the tournament. And with Saudi Arabia getting involved, who knows what other surprises are waiting in store?

idk about this WPL auction... on one hand, it's dope that Deepti Sharma got that big deal but on the other hand, didn't they already have an Indian captain for UP Warriorz? seems like there's some internal drama going on with their co-owner... also, Sophia Dunkley and Amy Jones from England got snubbed . and what's up with the teams not being able to afford them despite all these big signings? it just doesn't add up

Man, can you believe the prices they're getting for these talented cricketers now? Deepti Sharma is like a rockstar or something , and I'm not surprised she went for that kind of cash. She's been killing it on the field for ages.

I'm also loving how the Warriorz are building their team around Sophie Ecclestone - that girl's got skills ! And it's funny you mention Laura Wolvaardt wanting an Indian captain, because I think they'd be crazy to pass up a chance with Jemimah Baisen or Meghna Singh. They're both so talented and would bring a lot of experience to the table.

I'm really excited for the WPL next year - it's going to be insane seeing all these top players go head-to-head on the field ! And can we talk about how awesome it is that Shikha Pandey got a third-biggest contract? She deserves it after the amazing job she's done with India in the past.

omg what a transfer window ! the 3 crore mark for Amelia Kerr is insane i mean who wouldn't want to sign her at that price? and meg lanning going to warriorz is also a great move, but it's kinda weird they'd prefer an indian captain tho? guess we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out and what's up with the short tournament dates? 9 jan to 5 feb is pretty packed hope everyone stays healthy and energized throughout

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the WPL auction, ya know? Like, Deepti Sharma is worth 3.2 crore, which is insane! And Alyssa Healy just sat there, waiting for someone to pick her up... I feel bad for the Aussie captain . I'm kinda surprised that India didn't go for Sophie Ecclestone, considering how good she is.

Amelia Kerr's move back to Mumbai Indians is a big one, though. Maybe they'll finally get that Indian captain they're looking for . And it's cool to see Shikha Pandey getting a decent contract - we've seen her skills with India national team, but not as much in the league.

The whole thing just got me thinking about how fast this league is growing... and how exciting it'll be to watch! Can't wait for January 9th . Saudi Arabia's T20 league sounds interesting too, though - hope they get some amazing talent on board!

omg u guys i am literally SHOOK the WPL auction was CRAZY! Deepti Sharma became the 2nd most expensive player EVER! like who else can say that? and I'm so proud of her for breaking barriers in the Indian cricket scene! but seriously, why did Sophie Ecclestone go back to Warriorz? i thought they wanted her on their team and what's up with Laura Wolvaardt's co-owner wanting an Indian captain for Delhi Capitals? it's like they want someone who can lead by example and inspire the team!

and girl, did you see Amelia Kerr rejoin Mumbai Indians? I'm all about that #KKFan life but seriously, these signings are going to make the WPL so much more exciting! i'm hyped for the tournament next year! let's go India (and England and Australia and New Zealand)!

I'm loving the drama that unfolded at the WPL auction . Deepti Sharma killing it with a whopping 3.2 crore deal , and Alyssa Healy being left out in the cold . But what's up with India not having an Indian captain for their team? Shouldn't they just pick one of their own talented players to lead the charge? .

And I'm excited to see some new faces joining the league! Amelia Kerr's 3 crore deal is a massive get, but Meg Lanning and Laura Wolvaardt's move to UP Warriorz could be interesting . And it's cool that India got Shikha Pandey with a decent contract - they really need some strong bowlers in their lineup .

One thing that's got me curious is the early start date for the tournament - 9 January already? I hope everyone's ready to kick off the new year with some top-notch cricket! And Saudi Arabia's interest in featuring top women's players is a great sign for global growth and inclusion . Bring on the WPL 2026, let's get this party started! ️

OMG, can you even imagine having that kind of money to spend on cricket? Like, I'm all for empowering women in sports, but 3 crore rupees is insane! On the other hand, it's cool to see Indian players like Deepti Sharma and Shikha Pandey getting such big deals. Maybe it'll motivate them to do even better next season. Also, gotta say, I'm a bit curious about what kind of team India bowler Harmanpreet Kaur will lead this season...