Mumbai To Host Women's Premier League Auction On December 9; Check Details
The player auction for WPL 2024 will be held in December (Twitter)
The build-up to the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) will enter the player auction stage when all five franchise heads enter a bidding war to refine their playing squad in Mumbai. The much-anticipated affair will be held on December 9 as WPL franchises strive to bag the best options from the pool of released stars.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, "an additional purse of INR 1.5 crore (approx. US $180,228) will be available to each of the five teams in addition to the balance amount." The balance amount is the sum total of the remaining purse from the end of the last auction and following the conclusion of the retention-release phase.
As things stand, overall 30 slots are to be filled at the day-long auction in Mumbai, nine of which will be overseas picks. As many as 60 players were retained by the five franchises - defending champions Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore - who released a set of 29 cricketers back into the auction.
WPL 2024 Players Auction - All You Need To Know
Each WPL franchise had a purse of INR 12 crores for the league's inaugural edition last summer in Mumbai, which was notably exhausted by only two teams MI and the Warriorz. From the remaining sides, the Giants were left with a balance sum of INR 5 lakhs after the auction, the Capitals with INR 35 lakhs and RCB franchise 10 lakhs.
Giants, who finished last in WPL 2023, could've re-entered the players' auction with a measly sum up their sleeves but swelled their pockets after releasing a major chunk of their players during the retention-release phase. They let go nearly half of their playing squad and now have INR 5.95 crores with them.
Needing to fill five vacant slots, including one overseas pick, the Warriorz are next-best placed in terms of their purse with INR 4 crores followed by the RCB franchise at INR 3.35 crores, needing to fill seven player slots with three overseas vacancies.
Last season's runners-up, the Capitals will have a purse of INR 2.25 crores to bid for three remaining slots, including one overseas. As was expected, MI, who retained most of the winning contingent, have the least purse at 2.1 crores. They are required to fill one overseas and four Indian slots.
With the auction scheduled in December, the WPL is expected to be held during the same March window in 2024, although the BCCI is reportedly yet to communicate the dates and the venues to the five franchises. It is understood that the WPL could expand to be played on a home and away basis from next season onwards.
 "Kashish Chadha")
