The IPL auction is always a stage of changing fortunes. On Friday in Delhi, the 2026 Women’s IPL auction took place. A total of 67 women cricketers were picked by teams, including 23 overseas players, with a combined spend of ₹40.8 crore.
After the auction, 11 cricketers became millionaires, meaning each was sold for ₹1 crore or more. Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma fetched the highest bid at ₹3.2 crore for UP Warriors. Initially bid by Delhi Capitals, Sharma ultimately returned to her former team. This is the joint second-highest deal in IPL auction history.
Second-highest was New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr, picked by Mumbai Indians for ₹3 crore, making up 52% of their total spend. Meanwhile, Shikha Pandey joined UP Warriors for ₹2.4 crore.
However, not all stars were picked. Australian legend Alyssa Healy, England’s Heather Knight and Amy Jones, and Bangladesh’s Marufa Akter went unsold, creating headlines of its own.
Auction Table:
| Player | Country | Team | Price (₹ crore) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | India | UP Warriors | 3.20 | Joint second-highest deal |
| Amelia Kerr | New Zealand | Mumbai Indians | 3.00 | 52% of team spend |
| Shikha Pandey | India | UP Warriors | 2.40 | Key player for team |
