- Bree Illing and three unseeded Indians have been added to the WPL 2027 auction pool. The WPL 2027 auction pool has been expanded from 146 to 150 players ahead of the Kochi event on October 28, with New Zealand point guard Bree Illing and three Indian debutants added to the squad.
- Bree Illing, three unseeded Indians added to WPL 2027 auction pool (Photo by Phil Walter/) On Wednesday, October 28, just before the auction began in Kochi, four players were added to the Women’s Premier League 2027 auction pool, taking the total from 146 to 150.
- The only overseas entrant is New Zealand left-arm medium pacer Bree Illing, while three unranked Indian players complete the latest additions to the shortlist.
Bree Illing and three unseeded Indians have been added to the WPL 2027 auction pool. The WPL 2027 auction pool has been expanded from 146 to 150 players ahead of the Kochi event on October 28, with New Zealand point guard Bree Illing and three Indian debutants added to the squad.
Bree Illing, three unseeded Indians added to WPL 2027 auction pool (Photo by Phil Walter/) On Wednesday, October 28, just before the auction began in Kochi, four players were added to the Women’s Premier League 2027 auction pool, taking the total from 146 to 150. The only overseas entrant is New Zealand left-arm medium pacer Bree Illing, while three unranked Indian players complete the latest additions to the shortlist. The Indian squad includes two leg-spinners from Delhi, Medhavi Bidhuri and Samaira Raghav, and Avanya Jain, a left-arm medium pacer from Uttar Pradesh.
Raghav offers added value as a handy lower-order batsman, a dual skill set that could attract competitive offers. The auction itself started at 5:30 p.m. IST in Kochi on October 28, with all five franchises entering the space with purses of different sizes and number of seats to be filled out of a total of 27 vacancies. Which franchise has the most purchasing power at the 2027 WPL auction?
UP Warriorz hold the largest remaining budget heading into the auction, with INR 3.75 crore available to fill eight slots. Three of those eight positions are reserved for foreign players, putting them in the best position to pursue Illing or other international talent from the expanded pool. Gujarat Giants have INR 1.25 crore for three slots while Royal Challengers Bengaluru fetch INR 1.15 crore with five slots open.
Delhi Citals, runners-up in all four WPL editions played so far, has INR 1.10 Crore for five seats, one of which is reserved for a foreign player. At the other end of the spending spectrum, Mumbai Indians compete with the smallest available budget of INR 90 lakh, spread across six open slots, all aimed at Indian players. What does the expanded pool mean for the five franchises?
The inclusion of Illing will expand foreign activities for franchise companies that still have vacancies abroad. UP Warriorz, which has three overseas locations and the biggest budget in the space, is the most obvious target for the New Zealand sailor, although Delhi Citals also retains an overseas location among its five open locations and cannot be ruled out. Bidhuri and Raghav, both Delhi stalwarts, are entering a market where several franchises are actively looking for Indian players.
Raghav’s batting skills in the lower order could prove crucial in a tight bidding war. Jain, as Uttar Pradesh’s national left-back, is a natural target for teams whose remaining vacancies are reserved for Indian players – particularly Mumbai Indians, who need to fill their six available spots from the local pool. The late expansion of the shortlist from 146 to 150 ensures that every franchise with a wider range of themes takes part in the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi.
