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The WPL 2026 Mega Auction has delivered a massive headline, and it is none other than India’s star all-rounder, Deepti Sharma, who has stolen the show. In a bidding war that had franchises raising their paddles frantically, Deepti was eventually secured by her former franchise, UP Warriorz, for a whopping INR 3.20 Crore.
This massive paycheck makes Deepti the joint-second most expensive player in the history of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). She now shares this prestigious spot with international stars Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt, who also commanded 3.20 Crore price tags in previous auctions. The record for the most expensive buy remains with Indian opener Smriti Mandhana, who was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 3.40 Crore in the inaugural season.
The auction room in New Delhi saw intense competition, but UP Warriorz used their Right to Match (RTM) card to ensure their talismanic all-rounder didn't slip away to the Delhi Capitals, who had placed the highest bid.
Top Buys of the WPL 2026 Mega Auction
While Deepti stole the spotlight, several other players cashed in big checks. New Zealand’s spin wizard Amelia Kerr was snapped up by the Mumbai Indians for a solid INR 3.00 Crore. Veteran Indian pacer Shikha Pandey also saw a massive payday, going to UP Warriorz for INR 2.40 Crore, strengthening their bowling attack significantly.
List of most expensive buys from the 2026 auction:
Deepti Sharma: 3.20 Cr (UP Warriorz) – All-rounder
Amelia Kerr: 3.00 Cr (Mumbai Indians) – All-rounder
Shikha Pandey: 2.40 Cr (UP Warriorz) – Bowler
Sophie Devine: 2.00 Cr (Gujarat Giants) – All-rounder
Meg Lanning: 1.90 Cr (UP Warriorz) – Batter
Why Deepti Sharma's Stocks Skyrocketed
Deepti Sharma’s heavy price tag comes as no surprise to those who have followed her recent cricketing journey. She entered the auction on the back of a dream run in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, where she was nothing short of a phenomenon. Her campaign was legendary. Deepti was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for her all-round brilliance, but it was her performance in the World Cup Final that etched her name in history.
Cometh the hour, cometh the woman. She smashed a crucial 58 runs to rescue India’s innings and then returned with the ball to claim a magical five-wicket haul. It was fitting that she took the winning wicket in the final, sealing the trophy for India.
That "stuff of dreams" performance surely played a huge hand in her stock rising ahead of the WPL. UP Warriorz haven't just bought a player; they have secured a match-winner who knows how to deliver on the biggest stage.
