WPL Auction 2024 highlights: Kashvee Gautam becomes most expensive uncapped buy; no takers for Dottin and Athapaththu

Kashvee joined GG for ₹2 crore while there were no takers for Dottin and Garth at auction

WPL Auction 2024 highlights: A total of 165 players, including 61 overseas players went under the hammer at the second Women's Premier League (WPL) auction in Mumbai on Saturday. A maximum of 30 slots, including nine for overseas players were up for grabs at the WPL 2023 auction. Strengthening their squad for the forthcoming edition of the Women's Premier League, Gujarat Giants signed Australia's Phoebe Litchfield for INR 1 crore, who was the first player picked in the opening set of the auction. Making a blockbuster bid for Annabel Sutherland, Delhi Capitals (DC) roped in the Australia star for INR 2 crore. The mini-auction featured 56 capped and 109 uncapped players.

West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin, who had the highest reserve price of ₹50 lakh, was unsold at the mini-auction for the WPL 2024 season. Placed in the highest bracket at the WPL auction in Mumbai, Ireland’s Kim Garth was also unsold. Gujarat Giants opted to break the bank for India’s rising star Kashvee Gautam at the auction. Gautam became the most expensive uncapped buy in the history of the WPL auction. GG signed the uncapped Indian cricketer for INR 2 crore ahead of the WPL 2024 season.

Finishing with a wooden spoon last season, Gujarat Giants arrived at the mini-auction of the WPL with the biggest purse. The Giants had INR 5.95 crores in their purse and as many as 10 slots were available to revamp the squad for WPL 2024. Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) only had INR 2.1 crores and the Mumbai Paltan acquired the services of South Africa's Shabnim Ismail for INR 1.2 crore. RCB completed their squad by signing Sophie Molineux in the accelerated phase of the auction.

Bangalore also roped in Kate Cross for INR 30 lakh and Georgia Wareham for INR 40 lakh at the auction. There were no takers for Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, who was not named even in the accelerated phase of the Mumbai event. In the final round, India's Veda Krishnamurthy was signed by RCB for INR 30 lakh. Besides Dottin and Athapaththu, Kim Garth, Amy Jones, Punam Raut, Tammy Beaumont, Lea Tahuhu, Alana King, Amanda-Jade Wellington and Nicola Carey also made it to the unsold list.

A quick look at top signings from WPL 2024 mini-auction in Mumbai:

-Australia star Annabel Sutherland sold for INR 2 crore to Delhi Capitals.

-India's Kashvee Gautam sold for INR 2 crore to Gujarat Giants.

-Uncapped Vrinda Dinesh sold for INR 1.3 crore to UP Warriorz.

-South Africa's Shabnim Ismail sold for INR 1.2 crore to Mumbai Indians.

-Australia's Phoebe Litchfield sold for INR 1 crore to Gujarat Giants.