Top 5 most expensive players in the WPL auction 2026

The WPL 2026 mega auction was an exciting and surprising event, with all five teams bidding hard to acquire the best players available. There were many nail-biting bidding battles, surprises and record-breaking bids at the auction. As a result of combining veteran stars and young talent, the auction is considered one of the best auctions in the league's history.

One of the biggest highlights of the day was India’s World Cup star Deepti Sharma becoming the most expensive buy of the entire auction. Her bidding started at just ₹50 lakh but quickly went up as Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz fought hard to sign her. Just when it seemed like Delhi Capitals would win the bid, UP Warriorz used their Right-to-Match card and brought Deepti back for a massive ₹3.2 crore. Her price and popularity showed how important she is in both batting and bowling roles.

The auction also gave fans some unexpected moments. One of the biggest surprises came when six-time World Cup champion Alyssa Healy went unsold in the marquee round. Since she had missed the previous season due to injury, teams were cautious with their bids. With 276 players available and only 73 slots to fill, franchises had to choose carefully. By the end of the auction, five players stood out as the most expensive signings of WPL 2026.

1. Deepti Sharma – ₹3.2 Crore (UP Warriorz)

Deepti Sharma, the Player of the Tournament from India’s World Cup-winning team, was expected to attract heavy bidding. Surprisingly, she received only one early bid when Delhi Capitals started at ₹50 lakh. UP Warriorz quickly used their Right-to-Match card, and even when Delhi pushed the amount straight to ₹3.2 crore, UP matched it easily. This made Deepti the second most expensive player in WPL history.

See Also: DC squad after WPL 2026 auction: Here’s complete updated list

2. Amelia Kerr – ₹3 Crore (Mumbai Indians)

Mumbai Indians could not retain Amelia Kerr due to retention limits, but they were very keen to bring her back. They spent almost their full purse to sign her again for ₹3 crore. UP Warriorz also wanted her because she was the highest wicket-taker last season, but Mumbai’s strong bidding ensured she returned to their team.

3. Shikha Pandey – ₹2.4 Crore (UP Warriorz)

Shikha Pandey, one of India’s best-performing bowlers in recent tournaments, drew a strong bidding fight between RCB and UP Warriorz. Both teams pushed her price up from ₹40 lakh to a massive ₹2.4 crore. UP Warriorz eventually won the battle, and her medium-pace bowling will be very useful for them this season.

4. Sophie Devine – ₹2 Crore (Gujarat Giants)

Experienced New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine will now join Gujarat Giants after moving from RCB. The Giants won a tough three-way fight against RCB and Delhi Capitals to secure her for ₹2 crore. Devine adds power to their top order and also gives them a reliable part-time medium-pace option with the ball.

See Also: WPL 2026: Top 3 Players Royal Challengers Bengaluru Must Target in the WPL Mega Auction

5. Meg Lanning – ₹1.9 Crore (UP Warriorz)

Former Australia captain Meg Lanning was bought by UP Warriorz for ₹1.9 crore. She had led Delhi Capitals to three back-to-back runner-up finishes in previous WPL seasons. With seven World Cup titles to her name, her experience will be extremely valuable, and she might also become the new captain for UP Warriorz.