(Image Source: WPL)
[Saba Sports News] The eagerly awaited 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) player auction is set for December 9 in Mumbai. Each of the five teams will receive an additional INR 1.5 crore (approximately US $180,228) in funds, supplementing any remaining balance from the previous auction and earnings from player releases.
A total of 30 slots, featuring nine international players, will be up for grabs in the day-long auction. The franchises have retained 60 players, including 21 overseas, and released 29. The combined funds from player releases and any remaining balance will boost the initial purse of INR 1.5 crore, promising an exciting and potentially game-changing bidding session.
The inaugural WPL season achieved immediate success, showcasing top talent from various nations, except Pakistan. The tournament featured 22 matches across three Mumbai venues. The BCCI has not yet informed the franchises about the format or dates for the second edition – whether it will include home-and-away fixtures at multiple venues or maintain the previous single-city format.
During the previous auction, seven players secured impressive deals worth INR 2 crore, with Smriti Mandhana, Ashleigh Gardner, and Nat Sciver-Brunt crossing the INR 3-crore mark. In the first season, teams had a budget of INR 12 crore (approximately US $1.44 million) to build their squads, and notably, two of the five franchises fully utilized this substantial amount.
The reigning champions, Mumbai Indians, and UP Warriorz retain their full budgets, while Gujarat Giants have INR 5 lakhs (approximately US $6,007), Delhi Capitals have INR 35 lakhs (around US $42,053), and Royal Challengers Bangalore hold INR 10 lakhs (approximately US $12,015) as their remaining balance.