Beyond the big India stars: Five players to keep an eye on at the WPL auction

Uncapped heading into WPL 2025, Charani sparked an intense bidding war between Delhi Capitals [DC] and Mumbai Indians [MI] before eventually going for INR 55 lakh to DC. A left-arm spinner trusted across phases, she offers the kind of control and reliability captains crave. Her stocks have never been higher, having been instrumental in India's ODI World Cup triumph despite being an unlikely starter as late as June. Composed under pressure and rapidly rising in value, Charani is poised for an even bigger payday.

Bhatia has been part of two title-winning MI squads and enjoyed intermittent success as Hayley Matthews' opening partner. But a series of injuries stalled her upward trajectory, culminating in the heartbreak of missing the World Cup due to a knee injury. With G Kamalini retained by MI, Bhatia re-enters the auction pool at a time when several teams are actively seeking an Indian wicketkeeper. The past few months have seen her complete her rehab and regain full fitness, and her dual skill set once again makes her a valuable option. As a wicketkeeper-batter, she offers immediate balance and flexibility to whichever team secures her. She last played in August, impressing in the three one-dayers for India A in Australia.

Navgire last played for India in October 2022, but her power-hitting has remained impossible to ignore in the WPL. In 2025, she walloped a 24-ball half-century as an opener for UP Warriorz against DC. That innings briefly nudged the franchise towards considering her for retention. While that didn't materialise, an RTM card remains a realistic option. What's certain is that she won't come cheap. Navgire's stock has surged in recent months, especially in the aftermath of her record-breaking 34-ball century for Maharashtra against Punjab - the fastest in women's T20 cricket, surpassing Sophie Devine.

Another rising star from Madhya Pradesh's stables after Pooja Vastrakar and Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi announced herself with a hat-trick in India's Under-19 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The 19-year-old left-arm spinner then dominated the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets in 11 games at an economy of 6.47, before backing it up with strong performances in the inter-zonal tournament. Having impressed at multiple trials, Vaishnavi is widely praised for her maturity, composure and exceptional control, qualities that mark her out as one of India's most exciting young spin prospects. Teams that don't get Charani could be lining up for Vaishnavi.

A hard-hitting top-order batter from Haryana, Deeya has modelled much of her game on Shafali Verma. Her recent performances suggest she's charting a similar trajectory, too. She enjoyed a breakout Senior Women's T20 Trophy, amassing 298 runs in eight innings at an average of 59.50 and a strike rate of 128, including three half-centuries. She carried that form into the inter-zonal T20s, where her strike-rate touched 150 as she powered North Zone to the final. Still only 16, Deeya could be a long-term investment for franchises. Her stable base, excellent hand-eye coordination and raw hitting power have already prompted comparisons to Shafali, with many touting her as Haryana's next big batting talent.