Kochi, Oct 28 UP Warriorz secured the services of Australia captain Sophie Molineux for Rs 1.1 crore and India all-rounder Sneh Rana for Rs 30 lakh at the Women’s Premier League auction here on Wednesday.
Delhi Capitals roped in hard-hitting Kiran Navgire for Rs 75 lakhs. Navgire had also attracted bids from two-time WPL winners Mumbai Indians.
The franchise, which did not have a specialist wicketkeeper last season, also bought former India wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma for Rs 30 lakh.
The Warriorz bolstered their squad further by successfully bidding for experienced Australia all-rounder Grace Harris (Rs 30 lakh).
Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, snapped up young Indian batter G Kamalini for Rs 40 lakh.
Coming into the auction, the spin-bowling Australian captain Molineux had a base price of Rs 50 lakhs.
Mumbai Indians added Disha Kasat as the first buy of the auction ahead of WPL 2027, for base price of Rs 10 lakhs.
Out-of-favour India pacer Titas Sadhu went unsold in the first round of the auction while former Mumbai Indians spinner Saika Ishaque also met the same fate.
Keeper-batter Taniya Bhatia, and young stumper Uma Chetry, both with not-so-great strike-rate in T20s also didn’t have any takers.
England’s top order batter Sophia Dunkley, who has played in the past for Gujarat Giants, also went unsold.
The two-time champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a late bid in the auction to add the multi-skilled Australian Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 lakhs, which they completed during the accelerated auction.
For the record, Jonassen is missing out on WBBL due to hip injury but is expected to be fit by the time WPL commences.
UP Warriorz also added Scotland all-rounder Kathryn Bryce for Rs 10 lakh in the accelerated auction. She became the first player from an Associate Nation to be sold at the auction.
Delhi Capitals roped in Scotland’s left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon for Rs 10 lakhs, and also added the 15-year-old all-rounder Uma Kashvi to their roster for the same amount.
Earlier, Gujarat Giants had added Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast to their ranks at a price of Rs 30 lakhs.
Along with Kasat, Mumbai Indians also added uncapped Indian players Sanika Chalke, Bharti Rawal, and Latika Inamdar to their squad, each for a price of Rs 10 lakhs.
Kshemal Waingankar, the COO and director of cricket at Capri Sports, the owner of UP Warriorz said it was not a “bad problem” to have with the franchise adding another spinner in Molineux, an addition “at any cost”.
“I think that just puts us in a good position, whether that’s Sophie and Grace combined to tweak our combinations and decide which combination works best,” Waingankar said.
“Grace brings power to the middle order. Sophie Molineux, obviously, (brings) leadership qualities, an exceptional bowler and obviously fantastic with the team in general. So our thought was her and Sophie Ecclestone together would be a lethal force and again, like I said with Grace, we have the option of switching and seeing how things work,” he added.
Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger said getting Kamalini was a good move for the side.
“We felt Kamalini was the best batter in the auction, the most talented batter, and we were looking for an all-rounder to complement our squad,” he said.
“With the overseas selection and all of Prendergast as a seamer all-rounder gives us plenty of options during the season.”
“I was lucky enough to work with her at the Welsh Fire in the 100 this year. She’s a leading player for Ireland, also good leadership qualities and will be fantastic around the group,” he added.
(PTI News)
