The player auction for the 2024 WPL season will take place in Mumbai on December 9. ESPNcricinfo has learned that an additional purse of INR 1.5 crore (approximately US$180,228) will be available for each of the five teams, in addition to the remaining balance amount from the last auction as well as the releases of players.
In the inaugural season of the WPL, teams had 12 million rupees (approximately $1.44 million) available to form squads, an amount that was exhausted by two of the five teams: defending champions Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz. Of the remaining three teams, Gujarat Giants had INR 5 lakhs (approximately US$6,007), Delhi Capitals had INR 35 lakhs (approximately US$42,053) and Royal Challengers Bangalore INR 10 lakhs (approximately US$12,015) as balance.
The Giants, who finished at the bottom of the points table last season, have released almost half of their team and will have the highest purse of INR 5.95 crore (approximately US$714,904) with ten slots including three abroad, available to be occupied. . Warriorz, who finished mid-table, have INR 4 crore (approximately US$480,608) to fill five spots, including one overseas. They are followed by the Royal Challengers, who finished in fourth place, with INR 3.35 crore (approximately US$402,509) to fill seven spots, including three overseas.
Capitals, last season’s runners-up, will have INR 2.25 crore (approximately US$270,342) to fill three spots, including one abroad. Mumbai will have the smallest purse among the five franchises, Rs 2.1 million (approximately US$252,319), to fill five positions, including one overseas.
The WPL was an instant success in the inaugural season, with top players, barring those from Pakistan, participating in the 22-match tournament played across three venues in Mumbai. The BCCI has not yet informed the franchises about the tournament dates for the second edition and whether the tournament will be played in a home-and-away format at various venues or in a single city like last season.
In last year’s auction, seven players got bids of up to Rs 2 crore and three crossed the Rs 3 crore mark: Smriti Mandhana (Rs 3.4 crore), Ashleigh Gardner (Rs 3.2 crore) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (Rs 3.2 crore). ).
Note: 1 USD = approximately INR 83
