Bree Illing, three uncapped Indians added to WPL 2027 auction pool

Bree Illing (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Four players were added to the Women’s Premier League 2027 auction pool on Wednesday, October 28, just before bidding commenced in Kochi, pushing the total count from 146 to 150. The sole overseas entrant is New Zealand left-arm medium pacer Bree Illing, while three uncapped Indian players complete the late additions to the shortlist.

The Indian contingent comprises two Delhi legspinners, Medhavi Bidhuri and Samaira Raghav, alongside Uttar Pradesh left-arm medium pacer Avanya Jain. Raghav brings additional value as a handy lower-order batter, a dual skill that could attract competitive bids. The auction itself got under way at 5:30 PM IST on October 28 in Kochi, with all five franchises entering the room carrying different purse sizes and varying numbers of slots to fill across a combined total of 27 vacancies.

Which franchise has the most spending power at the WPL 2027 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 designated for overseas players, placing them in the strongest position to pursue Illing or any other international talent from the expanded pool.

Gujarat Giants have INR 1.25 crore left for three slots, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru bring INR 1.15 crore into the room with five positions to fill. Delhi Capitals, runners-up in all four WPL editions held to date, hold INR 1.10 crore in their remaining purse for five slots, one of which is reserved for an overseas player. At the opposite end of the spending range, Mumbai Indians enter with the smallest available budget of INR 90 lakh, spread across six open slots that are all designated for Indian players.

What does the expanded pool mean for the five franchises?

The inclusion of Illing widens the overseas pace options for franchises that still carry international vacancies. UP Warriorz, armed with three overseas slots and the deepest purse in the room, are the most obvious destination for the New Zealand seamer, though Delhi Capitals also retain one overseas position among their five open slots and cannot be ruled out.

Bidhuri and Raghav, both Delhi legspinners, enter a market where several franchises are actively seeking Indian players. Raghav’s batting capability at the lower order could prove decisive in a close bidding contest. Jain, as a domestic left-arm seamer from Uttar Pradesh, is a natural target for sides whose remaining vacancies are restricted to Indian players — most notably Mumbai Indians, who must fill all six of their open slots from the local pool. The late expansion of the shortlist from 146 to 150 ensures that every franchise heads into the WPL 2027 auction in Kochi with a broader set of options to consider.

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