YTC Ventures | Technocrat’ Magazine
November 28, 2025
In a spectacle that blended high-stakes drama with trailblazing empowerment, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 mega auction wrapped up in New Delhi yesterday, shattering records and cementing its status as India’s fastest-rising sports juggernaut.
Star Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma fetched a jaw-dropping ₹3.2 crore from UP Warriorz, edging out global icons like Australia’s Meg Lanning (₹1.90 Cr to Delhi Capitals) and Smriti Mandhana (retained by RCB for ₹3.40 Cr pre-auction).
With 67 players sold for a whopping ₹40.80 crore, the auction wasn’t just about bids – it was a testament to WPL’s explosive growth, outpacing even IPL’s early days in fan frenzy and investor hype.As women’s cricket surges globally, WPL isn’t just a league; it’s a ₹1,275 crore ecosystem (per D&P Advisory’s 2025 report) redefining gender parity in sports.
From packed stadiums to viral social media moments, the 2026 edition promises fiercer rivalries and star-studded lineups.
But beneath the glamour? A razor-sharp business model that’s turning auctions into goldmines. Let’s break it down.
The WPL Auction Business Model: BCCI’s Blueprint for Billion-Dollar Dominance
At its core, WPL operates on a franchise-based T20 league model pioneered by the IPL but tailored for women’s cricket.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – the world’s richest cricket board – holds the reins as the central organizer, auctioning city-based franchise rights to private conglomerates. These auctions fund the league’s infrastructure, player development, and global outreach.Key pillars:
- Franchise Acquisition: BCCI sells exclusive territorial rights (e.g., Mumbai, Bengaluru) via closed tenders. In 2023, five teams fetched ₹4,670 crore in total bids – a staggering average of ₹934 crore per franchise for 15-year terms.
- Revenue Streams: BCCI centralizes media rights (₹951 crore from Viacom18 for 2023-27) and sponsorships (₹1,000-1,100 crore annually, with teams getting 80% share). Franchises monetize via jersey sales, ticket revenue, merchandise, and brand tie-ups.
- Auction Mechanics: Annual mega/mini auctions allocate player purses (₹14.5 crore per team). Teams retain up to 5 players (with slabs from ₹2.6 Cr for capped internationals to ₹50 lakh for uncapped), using Right-to-Match (RTM) cards for drama. Unsold players enter a draft pool.
- Profit Engine: Revenue sharing (45-50% to franchises from central pool) + local activations. Unlike IPL’s maturity, WPL focuses on community campaigns and digital engagement to build a 100M+ female fanbase.
This model has minted BCCI ₹377 crore in revenue from the inaugural 2023 season alone, with projections hitting ₹1,000+ crore annually by 2027.
It’s not just cricket – it’s a socio-economic shift, empowering 500+ women athletes while rivaling global leagues like The Hundred.
The Woman Behind the Hammer: Meet Mallika Sagar, WPL’s Auction Maestro
No auction is complete without its conductor, and WPL’s is a pioneer: Mallika Sagar, the 50-year-old Mumbai-born trailblazer who’s the first woman to wield the gavel in IPL/WPL history. A former art auctioneer (Sotheby’s alumna), Sagar’s poise turned the 2023 debut into a must-watch event, outshining predecessors like Richard Madley.
Her signature style? Witty banter, lightning-fast calls, and an unerring eye for escalating bids – Deepti Sharma’s ₹3.2 Cr frenzy was pure Sagar magic.From shattering glass ceilings in male-dominated auction rooms to mentoring young women in sports biz, Sagar embodies WPL’s ethos.
“It’s about amplifying voices,” she told Sportstar. As 2026 bids soared, her hammer drops echoed far beyond the dais – inspiring a generation.
WPL Teams: Owners, Empires, and Skyrocketing Valuations
WPL’s five franchises are backed by India’s corporate titans, blending sports passion with shrewd investments.
Initial bids locked in 15-year rights, but brand values have surged 8% YoY (D&P Advisory 2025), with Mumbai Indians Women topping at ₹350+ crore.
Total league valuation: ₹1,275 crore (down slightly from ₹1,350 Cr in 2024 due to market dips, but influence soaring).
| Team | Owners/Franchise Entity | Key Backers | Estimated Brand Value (2025, ₹ Cr) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians Women | Mumbai Indians Cricket Pvt Ltd | Reliance Industries (Mukesh Ambani) | 350+ | Highest-valued; IPL synergy boosts merch sales |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women | Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd | Diageo (United Spirits) | 280 | Fan frenzy post-2024 final; digital revenue king |
| Delhi Capitals Women | DC Sports Ventures Pvt Ltd | JSW Sports (Parth Jindal) | 260 | Aggressive bidding; youth academy focus |
| UP Warriorz | Capri Sports & Entertainment Pvt Ltd | Capri Global Holdings | 200 | Lucknow-based; community outreach leader |
| Gujarat Giants | Adani Sportsline Pvt Ltd | Adani Group (Gautam Adani) | 185 | Infrastructure investments; expansion potential |
Valuations from D&P Advisory’s “Beyond 22 Yards” report; total ecosystem ₹1,275 Cr.
Legal Structure: BCCI’s Iron-Clad Framework
WPL is a BCCI-owned professional T20 league, structured as a centralized entity under the Board of Control for Cricket in India – a society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975.
Franchises operate as private limited companies (e.g., Mumbai Indians Cricket Pvt Ltd) via exclusive licensing agreements with BCCI, granting territorial rights for 15 years.Key legal pillars:
- Governing Body: BCCI enforces rules via the WPL Regulations (player contracts, anti-doping, dispute resolution through arbitration).
- Franchise Agreements: Include revenue shares (45% central pool to teams), IP rights (BCCI owns league marks), and termination clauses for breaches.
- Player Contracts: Standardized via BCCI-WCA MoU; no independent player unions yet, but global standards apply (e.g., 12-match limit).
- Tender Process: Transparent e-auctions for rights/sponsors, per CCI (Competition Commission of India) guidelines to avoid monopolies.
This structure ensures stability while allowing franchise autonomy – a model that’s weathered legal hiccups like the 2023 SC verdict on BCCI reforms.
Auction Fireworks: Top Player Buys from WPL 2026 Mega Auction
The 2026 auction saw 277 players under the hammer, with teams filling 73 slots (15-18 per squad).
Total spend: ₹40.80 crore on 67 signed players.
Base prices ranged ₹10-50 lakh; uncapped Indians stole the show with value buys.
Here’s the marquee list:
| Player Name | Team | Role | Auction Price (₹ Cr) | Base Price (₹ Lakh) | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | UP Warriorz | All-Rounder | 3.20 | 260 | Record buy; RTM drama vs MI |
| Smriti Mandhana | RCB | Batter | 3.40 (Retained) | – | Pre-auction retention; captain |
| Meg Lanning | Delhi Capitals | Batter | 1.90 | 190 | Aussie skipper; injury comeback |
| Sophie Ecclestone | UP Warriorz | Bowler | 1.80 | 180 | England spin wizard |
| Tahlia McGrath | Gujarat Giants | All-Rounder | 1.40 | 140 | Power-hitter; 2024 top scorer |
| Vrinda Dinesh | Delhi Capitals | Batter | 1.30 | 130 | Uncapped Indian breakout star |
| Grace Harris | RCB | All-Rounder | 0.75 | 75 | Explosive finisher |
| Alyssa Healy | UP Warriorz | Wicket-Keeper | 0.55 (RTM) | 55 | Aussie vice-captain; unsold initially |
| Amelia Kerr | Mumbai Indians | All-Rounder | 2.10 | 210 | NZ teen sensation; 52% purse spent |
| Shikha Pandey | UP Warriorz | Bowler | 1.50 | 150 | Veteran pacer; bidding war |
Full squads via ESPNcricinfo; total auction history: 2023 (₹13.60 Cr), 2024 mini (₹6.50 Cr), 2025 (₹15.20 Cr), 2026 (₹40.80 Cr) = Cumulative ₹76.10 Cr spent on players.
Ka-Ching! How WPL Owners Turn Bids into Billions – The Profit Playbook
Franchise owners aren’t just philanthropists; they’re savvy investors riding WPL’s 8% YoY valuation growth. Profit = Revenue – Costs, but in this league, it’s amplified by BCCI’s central pool (media/sponsorships) distributing 45-50% to teams (~₹400-500 Cr per franchise annually by 2027).
Revenue Breakdown (Per Team Avg.):
- Central Share: 70-80% (₹300-400 Cr from TV/digital rights).
- Local: Tickets/merch (₹50-100 Cr), sponsorships (₹100 Cr+ via jersey/kit deals).
- Total Projected 2026: ₹600 Cr+ per team.
Costs:
- Player Salaries: 25-30% of revenue (₹150 Cr, incl. auction purses).
- Operations: Stadiums, travel, marketing (₹100-150 Cr).
- Franchise Fees: Amortized ₹60 Cr/year over 15 years.
How Profits Accrue:
- Central Revenue Magic: BCCI’s ₹951 Cr media deal + ₹48 Cr new sponsors (2025-26) flow directly to teams.
- Brand Synergies: Adani/Reliance leverage ecosystems for cross-promos (e.g., MI’s Jio tie-ups).
- Equity Growth: Valuations up 8%; resale potential post-15 years.
- ROI Timeline: Break-even in Year 2; 20-30% margins by Year 5 via fanbase explosion.
Past Profits: A 3-Year Snapshot (WPL Launched 2023; Limited Data Pre-That)
WPL’s youth means granular franchise P&Ls are emerging, but BCCI filings and reports paint a rosy picture. Franchises averaged ₹50-100 Cr profits in 2024-25, fueled by 2024 final’s 30% viewership spike. (No data pre-2023; league inception marked Year 1.)
| Year | Total League Revenue (₹ Cr) | Total Costs (₹ Cr) | Net Profit (Franchises Aggregate, ₹ Cr) | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 800 (BCCI-led) | 423 | 150 (Break-even phase) | Inaugural media rights boom |
| 2024 | 1,050 | 550 | 250 | Sponsorship surge; final viewership +40% |
| 2025 | 1,200 | 600 | 350 | Digital rights renewal; 8% valuation hike |
Aggregates from BCCI annuals/D&P reports; per-team avg. ₹70 Cr (2025). Projections: ₹500 Cr+ league profit by 2027.As WPL eyes a sixth team and home-away formats (hinted by Delhi’s Parth Jindal), the auction hammer’s echo signals more milestones. Deepti, Mandhana, and Sagar aren’t just names – they’re the architects of a ₹5,000 Cr+ future.
Who’s your boldest bid?
Drop in the comments – the women’s game is just heating up!
Sources: ESPNcricinfo, BCCI.tv, D&P Advisory 2025 Report, Sportstar. Follow for live WPL 2026 updates!
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