WPL: Top 5 expensive signings in the tournament history

One of the most prominent and competitive Twenty20 cricket competitions in the world is now the Women's Premier League (WPL). Every season, the league has attracted elite players and seen intense bidding wars between teams looking to win games.

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The league was rocked by the WPL 2026 mega-auction, which took place in New Delhi on November 27, 2025, as teams fought hard to put together their rosters for the forthcoming year. Each squad could have up to 18 players, with a maximum of six foreign additions, out of the 277 players in the auction pool—194 Indian and 83 foreign.

Today let’s take a look at the top five most expensive buys ever in WPL auction history.

Here are the top 5 most expensive signings in WPL tournament history:

Star India cricketer Smriti Mandhana is at the no. 1 spot when it comes to the most expensive buys in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in the very first event in 2023. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) broke the bank on Mandhana, paying her INR 3.40 crores. She was made the captain of the RCB team and won them the WPL 2024 tournament.

Deepti Sharma, an Indian all-rounder who was acquired by UP Warriorz at ₹3.20 crore in the 2026 mega auction, is the second most expensive buy on the WPL auction list. Deepti, a middle-order hitter and seasoned spinner, provides balance to the team, which needs consistency in both batting and bowling.

The Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner sold for ₹3.2 crore at the WPL 2023 auction. Gardner was a formidable all-around player who was well-known for her strong hitting and useful off-spin bowling. Teams can choose their batting order and bowling strategy because of her ability to clear boundaries and contribute with economical overs.

Natalie Sciver-Brunt, an English all-rounder and captain, was acquired by the Mumbai Indians in 2023 for ₹3.2 crore, making her one of the most expensive WPL players ever. Her combined role as a competent medium-pace bowler and dependable middle-order batsman made her valuable in a variety of formats and a crucial component of their first-ever championship victory.

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Amelia Kerr, an all-rounder from New Zealand, was acquired by Mumbai Indians Women for ₹3.00 crore in the 2026 WPL auction, adding her to the elite list. In addition to being a dependable off-spinner and a left-handed hitter who can quicken innings, Kerr has a strong all-around skill set. She had already won the WPL twice with the Mumbai Indians.

Top 5 expensive signings in WPL tournament history:

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