The upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Player Auction is poised to witness a significant impact from the heart of India, with a substantial contingent of Madhya Pradesh (MP) players making their presence felt. A formidable group of twelve cricketers from the state have been officially included in the final auction list, signifying a major milestone for women’s cricket in the region.
Scheduled to take place in New Delhi on November 27, the high-stakes auction is expected to see fierce bidding for these talented players, particularly the three who have donned the national colours. This robust representationโcomprising three capped international players and nine promising domestic talentsโhighlights the deepening pool of cricketing talent emanating from Madhya Pradesh, making it one of the key narratives to track during the marquee event. The total number of players from a single state reaching the auction block underscores a burgeoning ecosystem for female athletes in the state.
๐ The National Stars: Focus on Capped Players
The inclusion of players who have already represented the Indian national team automatically positions them in a higher tier, commanding elevated base prices and garnering intense focus from all WPL franchises. These established players bring a wealth of international experience, crucial for navigating the high-pressure environment of the WPL.
๐ Kranti Gaud: The World Cup Winner and Pace Sensation
The most prominent name emerging from Madhya Pradesh’s auction list is the aggressive fast bowler, Kranti Gaud. Hailing from Chhatarpur, Gaudโs resume received a monumental boost as a member of the triumphant Indian squad that secured the Womenโs ODI World Cup in 2025. Her ability to deliver sharp, incisive spells of pace bowling makes her an invaluable asset in the shortest format of the game.
- Base Price: $\text{โน}50$ Lakhs
- Past Experience: She previously featured for the Uttar Pradesh Warriors franchise, demonstrating her familiarity with the WPL structure and competitive level.
- Prospects: Given her World Cup pedigree and proven pace, industry experts anticipate a massive bidding war for her services, potentially pushing her final contract value significantly higher than her base price. Her performance in the auction will serve as a bellwether for the value franchises place on proven international fast bowling talent.
๐ช Pooja Vastrakar: Set for a High-Value Comeback
Another player with a $\text{โน}50$ Lakh base price is the powerful all-rounder, Pooja Vastrakar (from Shahdol). Vastrakar, known for her explosive hitting and accurate medium-fast bowling, is a familiar name on the international circuit.
- Injury Sideline: Her absence from the previous WPL season due to an injury has heightened the anticipation around her return.
- Anticipation: Franchises will be keen to acquire her services, as her dual role (a hard-hitting lower-order batter and a crucial death-overs bowler) offers exceptional team balance. Her fitness will be a key consideration, but her ceiling for performance is undeniably high, making her one of the most sought-after Indian all-rounders in the pool. A fully fit Vastrakar is expected to draw substantial bids, possibly hitting the crore mark.
๐ซ Shuchi Upadhyay: The Youthful Quick with International Acclaim
Completing the trio of capped players is the dynamic 19-year-old fast bowler, Shuchi Upadhyay (from Mandla). Her recent impressive performance during India’s tour of England has fast-tracked her recognition and inclusion in the elite list.
- Base Price: $\text{โน}30$ Lakhs
- Upside Potential: As a young, express pacer, she represents a long-term investment opportunity for any franchise. Her relatively lower base price compared to Gaud and Vastrakar, combined with her immense potential, could make her a dark horse candidate for a surprise big-money signing. Franchises often look to secure young international talent for future stability.
๐ MPL Dominance: The Nine Uncapped Hopefuls
The majority of the Madhya Pradesh contingent consists of nine uncapped domestic players. Their pathway to the WPL auction has been significantly influenced by their performances in the state’s flagship domestic competition: the MPL (Madhya Pradesh Premier League) Women’s 2025 tournament. This demonstrates the WPL’s commitment to leveraging domestic leagues as a talent scouting ground.
๐ MPL Performance: The Selection Criteria
Information suggests that the outstanding display by these players in the MPL was the primary metric for their inclusion in the WPL 2026 auction list. This emphasis on recent, quantifiable domestic performance ensures that only players in peak form and demonstrating the necessary potential for T20 cricket are presented to the franchises.
- Top Run-Scorer: Ayushi Shukla has been included based on her stellar batting performance, where she finished as the tournamentโs highest run-getter. Her consistent form at the top of the order offers a ready-made solution for an opening slot.
- Leading Wicket-Taker: Bowler Priyanka Kaushal secured her spot by topping the wickets chart in the MPL, showcasing her ability to break partnerships and contain the flow of runs.
๐ฐ The Uncapped Base Price Structure
All nine uncapped players from Madhya Pradesh have been assigned a uniform base price of $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs, except for one player whose base price is $\text{โน}20$ Lakhs. This accessible price point makes them attractive propositions for franchises looking to build depth and uncover hidden gems without exhausting their primary auction purse. The relatively low risk and high reward potential of these players add an element of unpredictability to the auction.
๐ Comprehensive List: Madhya Pradesh Players in WPL 2026 Auction
The following is the complete list of the twelve players from Madhya Pradesh who will go under the hammer, categorized by their experience level:
1. Capped International Players (High-Value Targets)
| S. No. | Player Name | Hometown | Base Price | Core Speciality |
| 1. | Kranti Gaud | Chhatarpur | $\text{โน}50$ Lakhs | Fast Bowler |
| 2. | Pooja Vastrakar | Shahdol | $\text{โน}50$ Lakhs | All-Rounder |
| 3. | Shuchi Upadhyay | Mandla | $\text{โน}30$ Lakhs | Fast Bowler |
2. Uncapped Domestic Prospects (Potential Breakthrough Stars)
| S. No. | Player Name | Hometown | Base Price | Key Metric/Role |
| 4. | Sanskrati Gupta | Shahdol | $\text{โน}20$ Lakhs | All-Rounder |
| 5. | Priyanka Kaushal | Indore | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | MPL Leading Wicket-Taker |
| 6. | Rahila Firdous | Bhopal | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | Batsman/Wicket-Keeper |
| 7. | Anushka Sharma | Gwalior | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | Batter |
| 8. | Vaishnavi Sharma | Gwalior | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | Spinner |
| 9. | Ayushi Shukla | Indore | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | MPL Leading Run-Scorer |
| 10. | Soumya Tiwari | Bhopal | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | Middle-Order Batter |
| 11. | Nikita Singh | Rewa | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | All-Rounder |
| 12. | Anadi Tagde | Indore | $\text{โน}10$ Lakhs | All-Rounder |
๐ก The Strategic Imperative for WPL Franchises
Franchises entering the auction will have distinct strategies for approaching the Madhya Pradesh pool. The strategy will be multifaceted, targeting both immediate high-impact players and long-term talent investments:
- Securing Core Talent: The bidding for Kranti Gaud and Pooja Vastrakar will be aggressive. Their base price acts merely as a starting point. Any franchise with a significant purse remaining will view them as top-tier assets capable of winning crucial moments in the tournament.
- Mining for Value: The nine uncapped players, all at a minimal base price, offer incredible value. A team lacking in specific departments (like a reliable spinner, an express pacer, or an anchor batter) can easily plug those gaps by acquiring one or two of these domestic performers who have demonstrated excellent form in the MPL.
- Bench Strength and Future Planning: The WPL is a long tournament requiring deep squad rotation. Players like Shuchi Upadhyay and the MPL standouts are crucial for maintaining the quality of the reserve bench and planning for the longevity of the franchise. Their lower acquisition cost allows franchises to diversify their spending across various player profiles.
๐ Expanding the Cricket Horizon: The Madhya Pradesh Story
The strong contingent from Madhya Pradesh is not an isolated event; it reflects a broader, concerted effort to develop women’s cricket infrastructure within the state.
๐๏ธ Investing in Grassroots: A Model for Success
The success of players like Gaud and the high-level performance of MPL players like Ayushi Shukla and Priyanka Kaushal underscore the effectiveness of focused grassroots investments. Increased support from the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), better access to facilities, and the establishment of local leagues like the MPL have created a viable pipeline for female cricketers.
This model is critical for the long-term health of Indian women’s cricket. By providing structured, competitive platforms at the state level, the MPL ensures that players transition smoothly from domestic challenges to the national and, subsequently, the global stage of the WPL. The WPL, in turn, acts as the ultimate incentive and financial reward for excellence in the state circuit.
๐ธ Economic and Social Impact
Beyond the cricketing narrative, the selection of 12 playersโespecially those from smaller towns like Mandla and Rewaโcarries immense social and economic significance.
- Financial Security: A successful WPL contract, even at the base price, offers unprecedented financial security, transforming the lives of these athletes and their families. For a player like Kranti Gaud, a multi-crore contract could establish a legacy for her family.
- Inspiration: The visibility of these players on a national stage serves as a powerful inspiration for thousands of young girls across Madhya Pradesh, encouraging them to pursue cricket as a professional career. Their success validates the investment and sacrifice required for professional sports.
๐ฎ Expert Projections and The Bidding Strategy
As the auction draws closer, cricket analysts are closely studying the dynamic of available funds across franchises and the specific needs of each team.
- Mumbai Queens/Delhi Daredevils: Teams known for strategic spending and a history of prioritizing proven international quality are likely to enter the bidding war for Kranti Gaud and Pooja Vastrakar aggressively from the outset.
- Bangalore Blitz/Chennai Challengers: Franchises needing to reinforce their domestic batting and spin attack might target the MPL heroes like Ayushi Shukla (batter) and Priyanka Kaushal (bowler), viewing them as immediate, high-impact specialists at low cost.
- Future-Proofing: A franchise focusing on building a team for the next five years will almost certainly target Shuchi Upadhyay as a key pace bowling investment, given her age and international exposure.
The โน20 Lakh base price for Sanskrati Gupta suggests an elevated domestic profile or a specific skill set (likely an all-rounder) that the WPL committee has valued higher than the standard uncapped tier, making her an intriguing middle-tier target.
๐ฏ Conclusion: The Day of Destiny
The WPL 2026 auction is more than just a player exchange; it is a platform that validates domestic performance and provides a crucial stepping stone to the elite level of the sport. With 12 players on the list, Madhya Pradesh is firmly positioned as a key contributor to the league’s talent pool. The auction on November 27 will ultimately determine which of these twelve trailblazers will achieve their dreams and how much their talent is valued in the highly competitive, multi-million-dollar ecosystem of the Womenโs Premier League. The performance of this contingent will undoubtedly be watched closely by millions, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter for womenโs cricket in the state and the nation.
โ Suggested FAQs.
Q1: Which Madhya Pradesh players are included in the WPL 2026 auction list?
A: A total of twelve players from Madhya Pradesh have been included in the WPL 2026 auction list. This includes three capped players (Kranti Gaud, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shuchi Upadhyay) and nine uncapped domestic players (including MPL stars like Ayushi Shukla and Priyanka Kaushal).
Q2: Who is the highest-priced player from MP in the WPL 2026 Auction?
A: The highest base price of $\text{โน}50$ Lakhs has been assigned to two players from Madhya Pradesh: fast bowler Kranti Gaud and all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar. Both are capped international players for India.
Q3: How were the uncapped players from MP selected for the WPL Auction?
A: The uncapped players were primarily selected based on their stellar performance in the MPL (Madhya Pradesh Premier League) Women’s 2025 tournament. Key criteria included finishing as the highest run-scorer (Ayushi Shukla) and the highest wicket-taker (Priyanka Kaushal) in the domestic league.
Q4: When and where will the WPL 2026 Auction be held?
A: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Player Auction is scheduled to take place on November 27 in New Delhi.
External Source:ย Patrika Report
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