Smriti Mandana is the costly pick in WPL auction 2023

The inaugural auction of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 was held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. Before the competition, the five franchises - Mumbai Indians (MI), Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Giants (GG), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and UP Warriorz (UPW) put their best guesses forward and chose what they regarded would be the best lineup. A total of 448 cricketers went under the auction- of which 269 were Indians and 179 overseas.
The first pick in the history of the Women's Premier League auction, Smriti Mandhana made quick cash after the Royal Challengers Bangalore paid £340,000 to acquire her. She was the opening player for India. The combined budget of the five franchises for the 87 players was £5.95 million. The second most expensive Indian player to date is Deepti Sharma, an all-around player who was purchased by UP Warriorz for £260,000.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian captain, cost Mumbai Indians far less than Mandhana, at just around £180,000. As a result of their successful bid of £220,000 for Jemimah Rodrigues, Delhi Capitals have acquired their first player of the auction. Delhi Capitals' successful bid of £200,000 for Indian opening player and U-19 T20 World Cup skipper Shafali Verma.
Ashleigh Gardner, an off-spin all-rounder from Australia, was selected in the first round and cost the Gujarat Giants, owned by Gautam Adani, £320,000. Star Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry was purchased by RCB for a cool £170,000, and Sophie Devine, the captain of New Zealand, was acquired for a pittance at a base price of Rs 50,00,000.