The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is gearing up for its third season with an auction scheduled for December 15th in Bengaluru. This follows closely on the heels of the major IPL auction held in Saudi Arabia.
How many players are to be auctioned?
This upcoming WPL auction is relatively small, with only 19 slots available across the five franchises. The concise nature of the auction suggests it could be completed within a couple of hours.
The initial list of over 400 potential players has been narrowed down to 120. This shortlist, compiled with input from the franchises, includes 91 Indian players (nine capped) and 29 overseas players. These players will be competing for a maximum of five slots per team.
The youngest player on the shortlist is 13-year-old left-arm seamer Anshu Nagar from Delhi. The oldest player is 34-year-old Australian batter Laura Harris, who was released by Delhi Capitals.
Who has the biggest purse?
Gujarat Giants hold the largest purse going into the auction. They have Rs 4.4 crore to fill four slots, two of which can be overseas players. This substantial purse is a result of their last-place finishes in the previous two seasons, leading them to release six players – the most of any franchise.
Delhi Capitals, the runners-up in both previous WPL seasons, have the smallest purse at Rs 2.5 crore. They can fill upto four slots, including one overseas player. Each of the five franchises have a total budget of Rs 15 crore, increased from Rs 13.5 crore last year, for building their squads.
Team composition
Unlike the IPL, the WPL does not utilise the Impact Player rule. This means teams can only field the eleven players announced at the toss. WPL teams are permitted to field five overseas players, as long as the fifth player represents an Associate nation.
Two Associate nation players have participated in the WPL so far: Tara Norris from the USA and Kathryn Bryce from Scotland. Tara Norris notably achieved the WPL’s first five-wicket haul, playing for Delhi Capitals against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
This year’s shortlist includes three Associate nation players. They are Theertha Satish and Samaira Dharnidharka, both all-rounders from the UAE, and batter Sarah Bryce from Scotland, who recently played for the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL.
What is the base price?
Only two players have placed themselves in the highest base price for the auction: England captain Heather Knight and West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin. Their reserve price is set at Rs 50 lakh.
When will WPL 2025 take place?
The BCCI is aiming for a three-week window for the third WPL season. This window is expected to begin in the third week of January, following the IPL’s commencement on March 14th. The official dates and venues are yet to be announced.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming WPL 2025 Player Auction live coverage and broadcast:
What: TATA WPL 2025 Player Auction
When: 15 December, 2024
Where: Bengaluru, India
Time: 2:30pm IST onwards
Live streaming on: JioCinema
Television broadcast on: Sports18 – 1 (SD & HD)
