WPL 2026 player auction: DC rope in star South African skipper after intense bidding war with RCB

Delhi Capitals showed intense bidding for multiple established players. But with a small purse and small squad, they have to accomplish a mammoth task. From the marquee player segment, which was the first segment of the Women's Premier League (WPL 2026) auction, DC-W ropes in the South African star captain, who scored a brilliant hundred in the Women's World Cup 2025 final against India. 

With the introduction, cricket fans perhaps already assumed who has joined Delhi Capitals for the WPL 2026 season. It is Laura Wolvaardt. For INR 1.10 crores, the Delhi-based franchise has secured her service for a new season. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was also heavily interested in her. At a point of the bidding war between RCB and DC, it seemed that RCB would get the sign of Wolvaardt. But then DC made a comeback and took the price tag over the INR 1 crore mark and won the bid as well. 

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Laura Wolvaardt joins Delhi Capitals for WPL 2026 season

Delhi Capitals Women's team officials have joined the auction event with the auction’s smallest purse of Rs 5.70 crore. The final bid for Laura Wolvaardt has reduced their amount significantly. Still, they will have to cash in for 12 more players to fulfill the squad. 

According to stats from the official website of the Women's Premier League (WPL), Laura Wolvaardt has played 13 WPL matches so far after making her debut in 2023 in the tournament. In 13 matches, the top-order batter has scored a total of 342 runs at an average of 26.31. She smashed three half-centuries as well, including the highest score of 76 vs. RCB. 

DC Women Full WPL 2025 Squad before the auction:

Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, and Niki Prasad.

Retained players: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Annabel Sutherland, and Niki Prasad.

Released players: Meg Lanning, Sneha Deepthi, Alice Capsey, Arundhati Reddy, Jess Jonassen, Minnu Mani, N Charani, Shikha Pandey, Nandini Kashyap, Sarah Bryce, Taniyaa Bhatia, and Radha Yadav.