India, Nov. 27 -- Deepti Sharma, the Most Valuable Player of the Women's ODI World Cup that India won beating South Africa at Navi Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium earlier this month, emerged as the costliest player of the 2026 Women's Premier League auction in the Capital on Thursday. Other World Cup standout performers - India spinner N Shree Charani and South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt, also walked away with hefty pay cheques. The five franchises spent Rs.40.8 crore on 67 players at the auction.

UP Warriorz delivered the first talking point at the auction, snapping up Deepti for a whopping Rs.3.2 crore snatching her away from Delhi Capitals through their Right to Match card - a move that instantly signalled a franchise determined to rein...