In addition to altering how women’s cricket is played, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has altered how it is regarded. Due to teams’ willingness to shell out large sums of money to get match-winners, the auctions have drawn attention to the growing desire for female cricket players worldwide.
Every year, the WPL auction table has seen record-breaking offers for everything from all-rounders who balance the team with both bat and ball to power-hitters who can obliterate attacks in the powerplay. In actuality, some cricket players have command prices that are comparable to those of their male counterparts in terms of publicity and impact.
The Top 10 most costly women cricket players in WPL auction history will be examined in further detail in this post, along with the numbers that drove the transactions and the reasons why teams were willing to pay top dollar for these game-changing players.
| Player Name | Country | Price | Team | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – Smriti Mandhana | India | ₹ 3.40 Crore | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | WPL 2023 |
| – Ashleigh Gardner | Australia | ₹3.20 Crore | Gujarat Giants | WPL 2023 |
| – Nat Sciver-Brunt | England | ₹3.20 Crore | Mumbai Indians | WPL 2023 |
| – Deepti Sharma | India | ₹2.60 Crore | UP Warriorz | WPL 2023 |
| -Jemimah Rodrigues | India | ₹2.20 Crore | Delhi Capitals | WPL 2023 |
| – Shafali Verma | India | ₹2.00 Crore | Delhi Capitals | WPL 2023 |
| – Annabel Sutherland | Australia | ₹2.00 Crore | Delhi Capitals | WPL 2024 |
| – Kashvee Gautam | India | ₹2.00 Crore | Gujarat Giants | WPL 2024 |
| – Beth Mooney | Australia | ₹2.00 Crore | Gujarat Giants | WPL 2023 |
| – Pooja Vastrakar | India | ₹1.90 Crore | Mumbai Indians | WPL 2023 |
1) Smriti Mandhana — ₹3.40 cr (RCB, 2023)
In the first WPL auction, Smriti Mandhana established the standard by starting a bidding war that ended with Royal Challengers Bangalore snatching her for a record ₹3.40 crore. In addition to the star power and left-handed elegance, the goal of this acquisition was to build a brand identity around India’s most marketable batter. Mandhana’s fee continues to be the highest-ever WPL auction price.
2) Ashleigh Gardner — ₹3.20 cr (Gujarat Giants, 2023)
The cost of the Australian all-rounder was commensurate with the emphasis that modern T20 cricket places on explosive hitting and four overs of excellent off-spin. Gardner became a tactical mainstay for the Gujarat Giants and one of the two most expensive foreign cricket players in WPL history after being signed in 2023.
3) Nat Sciver-Brunt — ₹3.20 cr (Mumbai Indians, 2023)
Sciver-Brunt, a full T20 set, costs the same premium as Gardner. She was targeted by the Mumbai Indians for her finishing prowess, seam-up control, and composure during chases—qualities that lead to championships.
4) Deepti Sharma — ₹2.60 cr (UP Warriorz, 2023)
UP Warriorz made a significant investment on the best spin-bowling all-round player in India. Deepti was the most expensive Indian all-rounder at the first auction because of her ability to control the middle overs, bowl inside the powerplay, and provide useful runs.
5) Jemimah Rodrigues — ₹2.20 cr (Delhi Capitals, 2023)
Delhi paid more for their wager on a busy, match-up-savvy middle-order anchor. Jemimah’s ability to string partnerships and her game against spin complemented DC’s balance flawlessly, which made the premium price warranted.
6) Beth Mooney — ₹2.00 cr (Gujarat Giants, 2023)
Mooney is one of the best readers of T20 chases. Gujarat spent a lot of money to acquire a world-class opener and leader who provides consistency, strike rotation, and composure under duress, all of which are essential in a competition where margins are extremely narrow.
7) Shafali Verma — ₹2.00 cr (Delhi Capitals, 2023)
Purchasing Shafali entails purchasing Powerplay Mayhem. DC’s ₹2 crore move demonstrated their belief in a very aggressive strategy at the top. Her ceiling wins games in the first six overs, even when risk results in inconsistency.
8) Kashvee Gautam — ₹2.00 cr (Gujarat Giants, 2024)
The 2024 auction’s most notable headline was an uncapped Indian all-rounder who reached the ₹2 crore barrier. A seam-bowling prodigy with an expanding batting range was outbid by the Gujarat Giants, demonstrating that homegrown talent now fetches a high price in the WPL.
9) Annabel Sutherland — ₹2.00 cr (RCB, 2024)
Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland was signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore in the WPL 2024 auction, placing her among the most expensive players of the season.
10) Pooja Vastrakar — ₹1.90 cr (Mumbai Indians, 2023)
With his late-order muscle and seam-bowling ability, Vastrakar gives MI tremendous team balance and flexibility. Utility plus domestic availability equals value in auctions, which explains the nearly ₹2 crore tag.
Honourable Mentions
- Richa Ghosh – the young wicketkeeper-batter from India, was picked up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹1.90 crore in the WPL 2023 auction.
- Harmanpreet Kaur — ₹1.80 cr (MI, 2023): India’s captain went slightly lower than expected, but her leadership plus middle-order muscle made this a high-impact signing.
- Sophie Ecclestone – England’s star spinner Ecclestone was signed by UP Warriorz for ₹1.80 crore in the WPL 2023 auction.
- Ellyse Perry – Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹1.70 crore in the WPL 2023 auction.
Conclusion
Women’s cricket has advanced significantly in terms of recognition, funding, and international appeal, as evidenced by the WPL auctions, which have redefined the worth of female players. Every costly acquisition, from record-breaking acquisitions like Smriti Mandhana to unexpected million-dollar events like Kashvee Gautam’s ascent, signifies a change in mindset and strategy—where skill, adaptability, and star power are valued more than ever.
One thing is evident as the league expands each year: by providing players with the platform, recognition, and income they so well deserve, the WPL is not only producing exciting cricket action but also influencing the direction of women’s cricket.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Expensive Players sold in IPL auction history
