NEW DELHI: Uncapped spinner Simran Shaikh became the most expensive buy while 16-year-old G Kamalini got a jaw-dropping deal of Rs 1.60 crore at the Women’s Premier League 2025 mini-auction in Bengaluru on Sunday.
With a total of 19 spots to be filled, the five franchises went strategically about their business at the auction, making some smart inclusions to their squads.
At the centre of the auction were the Indian talents, who grabbed four spots on the list of top five most expensive buys at the auction.
Out of Rs 7.65 crore spent at the auction on Sunday, Rs 6.35 crore were spent on Indian players with the uncapped talents making the most of it. Rs 2.7 crore were spent by the franchises on overseas players.
With most of the franchise already having 12-15 players, they successfully made some smart buys at the auction to complete their squads ahead of the next editions.
While Gujarat Giants stole Shaikh after an intense bidding war for a record sum, Mumbai Indians went all out for Tamil Nadu’s Kamalini at the auction.
The Giants, looking for power-hitters also made the second biggest buy of the day, roping in West Indian slogger Deandra Dottin for a whopping Rs 1.70 crore.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru shelled out the fourth largest sum, buying 23-year-old spinner Prema Rawat for Rs 1.20 crore.
Two-time runners-up Delhi Capitals also went big after N. Charani, shelling out Rs 55 lakh for the 22-year-old left-arm spinner.
Top five picks at the WPL Auction 2025
1) Simran Shaikh – Gujarat Giants – Rs. 1.90 crore
2) Deandra Dottin (West Indies) – Gujarat Giants – Rs 1.70 crore
3) G Kamalini – Mumbai Indians – Rs 1.60 crore
4) Prema Rawat – RCB – Rs 1.20 crore
5) N. Charani – Delhi Capitals – Rs 55 lakh
Players bought by franchises at the WPL 2025 Auction
Delhi Capitals: N Charani, Nandini Kashyap, Sarah Bryce (Scotland), Niki Prasad
Gujarat Giants: Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin (WI), Danielle Gibson (Eng), Prakashika Naik
Mumbai Indians: G Kamalini, Nadine de Klerk (SA), Akshita Maheshwari, Sanskriti Gupta
RCB: Prema Rawat, Joshitha JV, Raghvi Bist, Jagravi Pawar (all uncapped)
UP Warriorz: Alana King (Aus), Arushi Goel, Kranti Goud
