Deepti, Kerr snap top deals at WPL auction, Healy unsold

TDT | New Delhi

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India’s cricket World Cup-winning star Deepti Sharma became the joint second-most expensive player in the Women’s Premier League history after a winning bid of $358,000 by UP Warriorz on Thursday.

The mega auction in New Delhi opened with a surprise after Australia skipper Alyssa Healy went unsold, as franchises finalised their teams for the fourth edition of the women’s T20 tournament.

New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr was the most expensive foreign buy with current champions Mumbai Indians getting the White Ferns star back in the franchise for $335,000.

Women’s cricket came of age in the ODI World Cup with hosts India crowned champions after they beat South Africa at a packed DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai earlier this month.

Warriorz brought back Deepti, a right-arm spinner and left-hand batter who was the player of the tournament with 22 wickets and 215 runs.

The most expensive player ever sold at the WPL auction is India’s Smriti Mandhana, who was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for 34 million rupees ($380,000) in 2023.

Second on the list are Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner and England’s Nat-Sciver Brunt who were sold for $358,000 in the 2023 auction.

Warriorz also got back England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone for $95,000.