All you need to know about the WPL 2025 mini-auction
How many players have made the final list, which team has the biggest purse, and all other details ahead of the auction on December 15
Ahead of WPL 2025, Gujarat Giants have the biggest available purse of INR 4.4 crore • BCCI
Yes, that's right. Hot on the heels of the mega IPL auction that was held in Saudi Arabia is another auction, which is ahead of the third season of the Women's Premier League (WPL). It will be held in Bengaluru on December 15.
That's because there are only a total of 19 slots to be filled between the five WPL franchises. This could make it the smallest of all mini-auctions, and could even be wrapped up in two hours.
From a long list of over 400 names, the BCCI has pruned it to 120 based on inputs and interest received from the franchises. This list includes 91 Indians - nine of them capped - and 29 overseas players, who will vie for a maximum of five slots.
Gujarat Giants, owned by Adani Sportsline, have the biggest purse of INR 4.4 crore (approx. US $518,461) available to fill four slots, of which two can be overseas. This is a direct consequence of them finishing last in the first two editions, leading to them releasing as many as six players - the most by a franchise heading into the auction.
At INR 2.5 crore (approx. US $294,580), Delhi Capitals, runners-up of the first two editions, have the smallest purse. They can fill a maximum of four slots, including one overseas. But overall, each of the five franchises have a total budget of INR 15 crore (approx. US $1.76m), up from INR 13.5 crore last year, to build their squads.
Unlike at the IPL, the WPL doesn't have the Impact Player rule, which means teams can field only the XI players they announce at the toss. However, WPL teams can field five overseas players, provided the fifth one belongs to an Associate country.
Two of them have featured in the tournament so far: USA's Tara Norris and Scotland's Kathryn Bryce. In fact, Norris picked up the WPL's first five-wicket haul, for DC against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Only three: UAE top-order batter Theertha Satish and allrounder Samaira Dharnidharka, and Scotland batter Sarah Bryce, who was recently part of Sydney Sixers' squad in the WBBL.
Three: England captain Heather Knight and West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin and South Africa's Lizelle Lee have placed themselves in the highest slab, with a reserve price of INR 50 lakh (approx. US $58,916).
Aged just 13, Delhi's left-arm seamer Anshu Nagar is the youngest player in the shortlist. Australia batter Laura Harris, released by DC, is the oldest at 34.
With the IPL starting on March 14, the BCCI is looking at a three-week window for the third edition of the WPL from the third week of January onwards. The final dates and venues, though, are yet to be officially announced.
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo