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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially revealed details for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction. With five franchises vying to strengthen their squads, the auction promises to be a thrilling event, bringing top international and domestic talent under the hammer.
Increased budgets for franchises
For the upcoming season, the BCCI has allocated an increased auction purse of ₹15 crore for each franchise, up from ₹13.5 crore in 2024. This increment reflects the growing stature of the league and the increasing demand for top-tier players.
Big names in the auction pool
A host of international stars are expected to be the focal point of bidding wars. Among them are:
- Heather Knight, England’s accomplished captain known for her strategic brilliance.
- Lea Tahuhu, New Zealand’s fiery pacer with a reputation for rattling batting line-ups.
- Deandra Dottin, West Indies’ explosive allrounder who can change games with both bat and ball.
On the domestic front, established Indian players such as Sneh Rana and Veda Krishnamurthy will also be available, adding depth to the auction pool.
Franchises’ purse and strategy
Each team enters the auction with varying purse sizes, determined by pre-auction trades and player releases.
- Delhi Capitals: Led by Meg Lanning, the Capitals retained the core of their squad, leaving them with the smallest purse of ₹2.5 crore. Their strategy will likely focus on plugging specific gaps rather than making marquee buys.
- Gujarat Giants: After finishing at the bottom of the table last season, the Giants released seven players, giving them the largest purse of ₹4.4 crore. They aim to rebuild and improve their fortunes in WPL 2025.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): The defending champions released seven players and have ₹3.25 crore to spend. In the pre-season trade window, they acquired England’s Danielle Wyatt-Hodge from UP Warriorz in an all-cash deal, bolstering their top-order batting.
Also READ: West Indies announce squad for India tour; Stafanie Taylor out, Deandra Dottin returns to ODIs
Players’ retention and the auction date for WPL 2025
Across the five franchises, a total of 71 players, including 25 overseas stars, have been retained, ensuring that the core squads remain intact. This stability provides a strong foundation for teams to build upon during the auction.
The bidding event, scheduled on December 15 in Bengaluru, will play a pivotal role in shaping team rosters and strategies for the upcoming season, as franchises look to strike a balance between experience and fresh talent.
Also READ: WPL 2025 Retention – Complete list of players retained and released ahead of the auction
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
