UP Warriorz Secure Deepti for ₹3.2 Cr in WPL 2026, Healy Misses Out

When the five teams revealed their retention lists for the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on November 7, many were surprised by UP Warriorz’s decision to exclude Deepti Sharma. After all, just a week earlier, she had secured the Player-of-the-Tournament title at the ODI World Cup.

However, during the mega auction on Thursday for the 2026 WPL, which will take place in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara from January 9 to February 5, the Warriorz successfully reacquired the all-rounder using the Right to Match (RTM) option, though it came at a hefty price of Rs. 3.2 crore.

This acquisition made Deepti Sharma the most expensive buy of the day and placed her as the joint-second-highest purchase in the history of WPL auctions, just behind Smriti Mandhana’s Rs. 3.4 crore deal with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the inaugural year. The bidding opened with Capitals at her base price of Rs. 50 lakh and escalated to Rs. 3.2 crore when Warriorz opted to use RTM.

This was just one of numerous strategic buys by the Warriorz, who had the highest available budget of Rs. 14.5 crore at the auction. To bolster their pace attack, they engaged in an intense bidding war with RCB for Shikha Pandey, ultimately securing the 36-year-old for Rs. 2.4 crore.

Furthermore, the Warriorz spent Rs. 1.9 crore on Australia’s Meg Lanning, meaning they claimed three of the top five costliest players in this auction. Lanning might open alongside 22-year-old Phoebe Litchfield, acquired for Rs. 1.2 crore after her brilliant century against India in the ODI World Cup semifinal.

For Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, the auction was about maintaining their core teams. Defending champions MI spent Rs. 3 crore from their Rs. 5.75 crore budget on Amelia Kerr. The New Zealand all-rounder was integral to MI’s title victories in 2023 and 2025.

Capitals re-signed left-arm spinner Shree Charani for Rs. 1.3 crore. Although she featured in only two matches last season, the 21-year-old from Andhra shone in India’s ODI World Cup victory with 14 wickets in nine games. After missing out on Lanning to the Warriorz, DC secured South African opener Laura Wolvaardt for Rs. 1.1 crore. Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal announced the team would be captained by an Indian.

“We went as far as we could for Lanning. In Wolvaardt, we’ve gained an exceptional player to fill her shoes. She’s a fantastic addition to the squad,” said Jindal.

By the end of the auction, 67 players were sold, and the five teams collectively spent Rs. 40.8 crore. Surprisingly, Alyssa Healy and Alana King were among the unsold players.

Published on Nov 27, 2025