Several Aussies scored big at the WPL mega auction, which saw plenty of player movement between teams
Meg Lanning will be turning out for the UP Warriorz, after the former Australia captain was secured by the Lucknow-based team for A$325,755 (INR 1.9 crore) in the WPL mega auction.
UP’s inaugural captain and the current Australia skipper, Alyssa Healy was passed up by the five franchises, but big-hitter Grace Harris got a reprieve later in the auction, landing at Royal Challengers Bengaluru for A$128,588 (INR 75 lakh) after going unsold in the first round of bidding.
Delhi Capitals were the first group to raise the paddle for Lanning, hoping to buy back the star player who led them to three consecutive finals but wasn’t among their retentions.
But with the smallest purse in the room, that was always going to be a challenge, and they lost out to a Warriorz unit that came into the auction with a near clean slate and with a big bank to spend.
The Capitals later secured South African captain Laura Wolvaardt for $A188,595 (INR 1.1 crore) to fill the now vacant spot at the top of the order.
Lanning could be opening the batting with Phoebe Litchfield, who earned a pay hike after being secured by the Warriorz for A$205,740 (INR 1.2 crore). Fellow Aussie young gun Georgia Voll also attracted interest, joining Harris at RCB for A$102,870 (INR 60 lakh).
Healy was the first player to go under the hammer in the opening marquee set but generated no interest in the room.
The wicketkeeper-batter’s struggles with multiple injuries over a sustained period could be the major factor deterring the sides from spending early on her and blocking an overseas slot on their list.
Aussies at the WPL 2026 Auction
Meg Lanning (UP Warriorz) $326,000 (INR 1.9 crore)
Phoebe Litchfield (UP Warriorz) $206,000 (INR 1.2 crore)
Georgia Wareham (Gujarat) $171,000 (INR 1 crore)
Grace Harris (RCB) $129,000 (INR 75 lakh)
Georgia Voll (RCB) $103,000 (INR 60 lakh)
Kim Garth (Gujarat) $86,000 (INR 50 lakh)
Nicola Carey (Mumbai) $51,000 (INR 30 lakh)
Lizelle Lee (Delhi) $51,000 (INR 30 lakh)
Lucy Hamilton (Delhi) $17,000 (INR 10 lakh)
Milly Illingworth (Mumbai) $17,000 (INR 10 lakh)
Leg-spinner Alana King was another big name to go unsold, with Darcie Brown, Lauren Cheatle, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Harris and Charli Knott among the other Australians passed in.
But it was good news for emerging quicks Lucy Hamilton and Milly Illingworth, who both pocketed their first WPL paydays, snapped up by Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians respectively for A$17,145 (INR 10 lakh).
Nicola Carey will join Illingworth at the Indians after shelling out A$51,435 (INR 30 lakh) for the Hobart Hurricanes allrounder, as well as a bumper A$514,350 (INR 3 crore) for the return of New Zealand star Melie Kerr.
Devine opens the batting to destructive effect
Following her free-flowing 24-ball 46 in the WBBL earlier on Thursday, Kiwi veteran Sophie Devine became the first player in the auction to earn a new WPL contract. She will be joining her Perth Scorchers teammate Beth Mooney at the Gujarat Giants, who shelled out A$342,900 (INR 2 crore) for the allrounder.
Georgia Wareham also scored big at the auction courtesy of the Giants and will re-join her original team in the 2026 season after spending two years at RCB. The Renegades allrounder was bought for A$171,450 (INR 1 crore), while seamer Kim Garth also landed in Gujarat for A$85,725 (INR 50 lakh).
Indian allrounder Deepti Sharma, recently named player of the ODI World Cup, was the biggest earner in the marquee set, claimed back by her original team Warriorz for A$548,640 (INR 3.3 crore) using their Right-to-Match card.
In all, the five franchises spent a total of $A6.9 million to sign 67 players. The tournament is set to begin on January 9 and run to February 5, with the final to take place two days before India co-hosts the men’s T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka.
Australians in WPL 2026
Delhi Capitals: Annabel Sutherland, Lucy Hamilton
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth
Mumbai Indians: Nicola Carey, Milly Illingworth
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Georgia Voll
UP Warriorz: Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield
Unsold players: Alyssa Healy, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Alana King, Darcie Brown, Laura Harris, Heather Graham, Lauren Cheatle, Nicole Faltum, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Webb, Samantha Bates, Sophie Day, Charli Knott
