The WPL 2025 mini-auction is scheduled for December 15 in Bengaluru. Teams have a total budget of INR 15 crore, with top international stars like Heather Knight and Lea Tahuhu up for grabs. Delhi Capitals have the smallest purse, while Gujarat Giants aim for a rebuild with INR 4.4 crore available.
Increased Budgets and Star Players in Spotlight
The WPL 2025 mini-auction marks an exciting chapter in women’s cricket, with an enhanced total budget of INR 15 crore per team.
Franchise strategies will revolve around acquiring international stars like England‘s Heather Knight, New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu, and West Indies‘ Deandra Dottin.Â
Indian talent such as Sneh Rana, Poonam Yadav, and Veda Krishnamurthy are also expected to draw significant attention.
Delhi Capitals, the 2023 and 2024 runners-up, have the smallest purse at INR 2.5 crore, limiting their options.
On the other hand, Gujarat Giants, who released seven players after two disappointing seasons, are ready for a rebuild with INR 4.4 crore to spend.
Team Strategies and Format Evolution
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), featuring Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine, enter with a budget of INR 3.25 crore.Â
RCB also secured England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge in a trade deal with UP Warriorz, signaling an aggressive approach to team strengthening.
The upcoming season, scheduled for February-March 2025, is expected to continue the caravan model of hosting matches in select cities, a strategy aimed at expanding the tournament’s footprint.
Discussions about adopting a home-and-away format are ongoing, but major changes are anticipated only from 2026 onwards, in line with the new women’s Future Tours Programme.
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