Simran Shaikh emerges Most Expensive Player during TATA WPL 2025 Auction

By: WE Staff | Monday, 16 December 2024

The TATA Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction took place on December 15, 2024, in Bengaluru at the ITC Gardenia. The auction was live-streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website in India and on the Sports 18 Network, which saw five WPL teams and their respective squads. 19 slots were available for the auction, including 5 for overseas players. Players were divided into three base price categories: INR 50 lakhs, INR 30 lakhs, and INR 10 lakhs.

The most expensive player was Simran Shaikh, who was bought by Gujarat Giants for INR 1.90 crore. Deandra Dottin was also a notable buy, picked up by Gujarat Giants for INR 1.70 crore. Gujarat Giants had the highest purse at INR 4.4 crores, while Delhi Capitals had the least with INR 2.5 crores. The WPL 2025 mini-auction filled 19 slots for five cricket teams from 120 players, including five for foreign players. Top names in women's cricket, including Deandra Dottin from West India, Heather Knight from England, and Lea Tahuhu from New Zealand, participated.

Anshu Nagar, the youngest player at the WPL 2025 auction, went unsold. Mumbai Indians bought 16-year-old all-rounder G Kamalini for Rs 1.60 crore.

Smriti Mandhana remains the most expensive player in the Women's Premier League, acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 3.40 crore in 2023, while Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt remain joint-costliest overseas buys bought by Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians for Rs 3.20 crore each.

WPL 2025 teams had a purse of Rs 15 crore to build 18 players, including six overseas recruits. Retained players remained, and the cost was deducted from the budget. The top buys of TATA WPL 2025 are Simran Shaikh sold to GG for Rs 1.90 crore, Deandra Dottin sold to GG for Rs 1.70 crore, G Kamalini sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs 1.60 crore, whereas Prema Rawat sold to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 1.20 crore.