The WPL 2023 Auction got underway in Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre with the who’s who of the Indian cricket fraternity attending the event. Mallika Advani was the auctioneer for the event. The logo of the WPL was unveiled as well.
A total of 409 players will go under the hammer with 246 of them being Indians and 163 overseas players, of which eight players are from the associate nations. The players in the auction register have five different slabs of base prices - INR 50 lakh, INR 40 lakh, INR 30 lakh, INR 20 lakh, and INR 10 lakh, with 24 players choosing to be slotted in the top bracket.
A total of 409 players will go under the hammer with 246 of them being Indians and 163 overseas players, of which eight players are from the associate nations. Smriti Mandhana was the costliest player bought in the first two rounds at INR 3.40 crs by Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The third category saw England’s Sophia Dunkley being the first name to be up for bids and got a winning bid from Gujarat Giants at INR 60 lakhs.
Next up was star Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues with a base price of INR 50 lakhs. UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals got into a bidding war and finally, she was bought by Delhi Capitals for INR 2.20 crores.
Suzie Bates from New Zealand was up next with a base price of INR 30 lakhs, but she failed to find a buyer.
Australia captain Meg Lanning was the next one up and immediately got a bid from Mumbai Indians, but Delhi Capitals got the winning bid of INR 1.10 crores.
Tazmin Brits from South Africa went unsold. Her countrymate Laura Wolvaardt was the next one up, but she as well failed to find a buyer.
India’s U19 T20 World Cup winner Shafali Verma then had the franchises interested and a bidding war ensued. Delhi Capitals bought the talented hitter for INR 2 crs.
England’s Tammy Beaumont was the next one and remained unsold.
