2026 WPL Auction Concludes: Shikha Sold for ₹2.4 Crore, Yastika and Pratika Also Picked Up
Yastika Bhatia and Pratika Rawal find teams amid fierce bidding; 67 players sold for ₹40.8 crore
India, Nov 28 : Veteran Indian fast bowler Shikha Pandey emerged as one of the top buys in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) mega auction, with UP Warriorz acquiring her services for ₹2.4 crore after a fierce bidding battle with RCB. The auction, held on Thursday, saw all 67 players sold, including 23 overseas stars, generating a total of ₹40.8 crore.
In a notable twist, ODI World Cup winner Pooja Vastrakar, recovering from a shoulder injury, was picked by RCB for ₹85 lakh, while India all rounder Arundhati Reddy joined Bengaluru based franchise GG for ₹75 lakh, reuniting with friends Smriti Mandhana and Radha Yadav.
Yastika Bhatia, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, was snapped up by GG for ₹50 lakh amid a bidding tussle with UPW. Similarly, Pratika Rawal found a team despite ongoing ankle rehabilitation, joining UPW for ₹50 lakh.
Other highlights included:
Australia’s Georgia Wareham picked by GG for ₹1 crore, edging out RCB.
Grace Harris, former UPW player, rejoined RCB for ₹75 lakh.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (India) added depth to GG for ₹50 lakh and ₹40 lakh, respectively.
Several uncapped Indian talents, including Rahila Firdous, Shipra Giri, and Pratyusha Kumar, were also picked at base prices between ₹10-30 lakh.
The auction concluded with franchisees strategically building squads across domestic and international talent pools, marking another significant chapter in the growing WPL ecosystem.
