WPL 2024: 165 players including Deandra Dottin, Kim Garth register for auctions; 60 players retained

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set December 9 as the auction date for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. After a great response in the inaugural year, there will be 165 players who will go under the hammer including star names Deandra Dottin and Australia's Kim Garth. The auctions will be held in Mumbai as the franchises get ready to splash the cash ahead of the latest season likely to start in early March.

Auctions on December 9

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the spotlight, the BCCI on Saturday (Dec 2) announced dates for the auctions. Franchises announced their retention list recently after which a lot of the latest players were registered for the auctions. 60 players were retained by the six franchises including 21 from the overseas contingent. The auctions will see 104 Indian players part of the auctions while 61 overseas players have registered their names.

On November 24 the WPL commission set December 9 as the auction date with players going under the hammer. The registration for the auctions took place until December 1 with players from different parts of the world enrolling their name.

Dottin will be the star attraction during the auctions as she comes with a pedigree on the international stage with the West Indies. Interestingly, she withdrew from the 2023 WPL edition and opted not to be registered for Gujarat Giants. She was purchased for Rs 60 lakh during the first auction and was consequently replaced by Kim Garth. However, the Australian was also let go by the franchise during the off-season.

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Purse remaining for franchises (In Rupees)

Delhi Capitals - Rs 2.25 crore

Mumbai Indians - Rs 2.10 crore

Royal Challengers Bangalore - Rs 3.35 crore

UP Warriorz - Rs 4.00 crore

Gujarat Giants - Rs 5.95 crore

Gujarat Giants will have the biggest purse with Rs 5.95 crore in their purse while defending champions Mumbai Indians have Rs 2.10 crore to spend as they occupy the lowest sum in the auctions.  

The dates for the latest WPL season are yet to be finalised with all the five teams looking to bolster their squad. The next season could likely begin in the first week of March while few reports are also suggesting that BCCI plans to start the WPL in late February.