The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 mini-auction delivered plenty of surprises as uncapped players dominated the headlines. Among the most notable events was leg-spinner Simran Shaikh becoming the costliest buy of the day. Mumbai Indians secured her services for an impressive Rs 1.90 crore, marking a major milestone in her young career. The auction also witnessed a record-breaking bid for 16-year-old Tamil Nadu sensation G Kamilini, who joined Mumbai Indians for Rs 1.60 crore.
This year’s mini-auction was short, sharp, and eventful. Held on Sunday, it wrapped up in just over two hours, with a total of 19 players sold for a combined Rs 9.05 crore. While capped Indian players like Sneh Rana and Poonam Yadav surprisingly went unsold, uncapped Indian talent stole the show, along with a handful of overseas stars.
Top Buys of the WPL 2025 Mini-Auction
- Simran Shaikh – Mumbai Indians – Rs 1.90 crore
- Deandra Dottin – Gujarat Giants – Rs 1.70 crore
- G Kamilini – Mumbai Indians – Rs 1.60 crore
- Prema Rawat – Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Rs 1.20 crore
Of the top four picks, three were uncapped Indian players, signaling a shift towards investing in emerging domestic talent. Notably, even West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, a global cricket star, was overshadowed by Indian youngsters when it came to auction prices.
Team-Wise Player Acquisitions
1. Mumbai Indians (MI):
- G Kamilini (Wicketkeeper, India)
- Nadine de Klerk (All-rounder, South Africa)
- Akshita Maheshwari
- Sanskriti Gupta
2. Gujarat Giants (GG):
- Simran Shaikh (Leg-spinner, India)
- Deandra Dottin (All-rounder, West Indies)
- Danielle Gibson (England)
- Prakashika Naik
3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
- Prema Rawat
- Joshitha JV
- Raghvi Bist
- Jagravi Pawar
4. Delhi Capitals (DC):
- N Charani
- Nandini Kashyap
- Sarah Bryce (Scotland)
- Niki Prasad
5. UP Warriorz:
- Alana King (Australia)
- Arushi Goel
- Kranti Goud
Key Takeaways from the Auction
- Uncapped Talent Dominates: Young Indian players, especially Simran Shaikh and G Kamilini, commanded sky-high prices, with franchises banking on fresh talent for future seasons.
- Capped Indian Players Ignored: Surprisingly, experienced names like Sneh Rana and Poonam Yadav found no takers, showing a shift in strategy among franchises.
- Gujarat Giants Lead the Way: Gujarat Giants emerged as the most active team, securing big names like Deandra Dottin and Danielle Gibson alongside Indian stars.
- International Stars on a Budget: While capped overseas players like Alana King and Nadine de Klerk found buyers, their price tags remained relatively modest compared to uncapped Indians.
The WPL 2025 auction highlights the growing confidence in domestic talent while blending international experience into the squads. With teams finalizing their lineups, fans can now look forward to another exciting WPL season filled with raw potential and established brilliance.
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