With the WPL 2026 auction scheduled for November 27 in Delhi, all eyes are on the overseas contingent expected to headline the bidding frenzy.
Franchises, rebuilding their cores under the expanded purse, are closely tracking top international performers who shaped the 2025 Women’s World Cup and recent global leagues. Previews across international and Indian media signal a clear trend: New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield are expected to be the most sought-after names at the table. South Africans Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk, both standouts at the World Cup, are also tipped to command significant interest.
England’s world-class spinner Sophie Ecclestone, Australia’s champion wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy, and rising star Litchfield join this marquee bracket, forming one of the strongest overseas pools in WPL history.
Below, we break down the top five overseas players set to ignite the auction and why their price tags are expected to soar.
Phoebe Litchfield (Australia – Batter)
At just 22, Phoebe Litchfield has rapidly evolved into one of Australia’s most exciting young batters. The left-hander burst onto the international scene in 2023, scoring back-to-back half-centuries and a maiden ODI hundred against Ireland, earning the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year award.
Her reputation skyrocketed in the 2025 ODI World Cup, where she hammered a sensational 119 off 93 balls in the semifinal against India, displaying composure and dominance under pressure. Beyond her batting, Litchfield has showcased leadership maturity, captaining Sydney Thunder to a WBBL title.
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Franchises will remember that the Gujarat Giants spent ₹1 crore to secure her in 2024. With a base price of just ₹50 lakh, experts predict a fierce multi-team contest for a player widely considered a “star in the making.”
Amelia Kerr (New Zealand – All-rounder)
Few players offer the all-round value that Amelia Kerr brings. At 24, she is already among the world’s premier multi-skill cricketers a fluent middle-order batter and a prolific leg-spinner.
Kerr was named the ICC Women’s T20I Player of the Year (2024) and played a central role in New Zealand’s T20 World Cup triumph. Her WPL record strengthens her case: 437 runs and 40 wickets in 29 matches for Mumbai Indians across two seasons. She finished as MI’s second-highest run scorer and the joint second-highest wicket-taker in 2024, later claiming the 2025 Purple Cap with 18 wickets.
She cost MI ₹1 crore in the inaugural auction, and given her current form and all-round dominance, she is widely expected to be one of the highest-priced cricketers in the 2026 auction.
Sophie Ecclestone (England – Spinner)
The world’s No. 1 T20I bowler, Sophie Ecclestone, remains a premium overseas option. The 26-year-old English left-arm spinner combines accuracy, variations, and the ability to deliver breakthroughs in clutch phases.
Her WPL performances have been equally impactful: 36 wickets in 25 matches for UP Warriorz, including a tournament-high 16 wickets in 2023. That breakout season helped UPW secure her services for ₹1.8 crore, one of the highest bids for a bowler in WPL history.
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Ecclestone’s lower-order hitting adds bonus value, but it is her “masterful spin” as described by analysts that ensures she will once again attract massive interest.
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa – Batter)
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt enters the auction as one of the most reliable and technically gifted top-order batters in world cricket. The 26-year-old had a blockbuster 2025 Women’s World Cup, scoring a century in the final and a stunning 169 in the semifinal, becoming only the second woman (after Alyssa Healy) to register hundreds in both knockout matches of an ODI World Cup.
Her WPL stint has also been productive. Stepping in as a replacement for Beth Mooney in 2023, Wolvaardt scored 310 runs at a strike rate of 134 for the Gujarat Giants. With a low base price of ₹30 lakh, her profile as a run-banker and potential leader ensures she will be at the centre of intense bidding.
Alyssa Healy (Australia – Wicketkeeper/Batter)
A veteran of world cricket, Alyssa Healy remains one of the most destructive openers in the women’s game. Her legacy includes iconic knocks: 75 off 39 in the 2020 T20 World Cup final and a record-breaking 170 off 138 in the 2022 ODI World Cup final. She stands alone as the only cricketer male or female to be Player of the Match in both T20 and ODI World Cup finals.
Healy joined UP Warriorz for ₹70 lakh in 2023 and has since scored 428 runs in 17 WPL matches. Now Australia’s full-time captain, her leadership, wicketkeeping, and power hitting make her one of the most influential players in any squad. Teams looking for experience and game awareness will view her as a high-value asset.
Notable Mentions
Sophie Devine (New Zealand – All-rounder): A proven match-winner with explosive batting and seam bowling, Devine remains one of the most feared all-rounders in world cricket. With 402 runs (SR 152) and nine wickets across two WPL seasons for RCB, the 36-year-old is expected to be pursued by sides seeking experience and versatility.
Nadine de Klerk (South Africa – All-rounder): A fast-rising talent, de Klerk was named in the 2023 ICC WODI Team of the Year after taking 16 wickets in nine ODIs while averaging 45 with the bat. Her impactful spells in the 2023 T20 World Cup and growing WPL experience (bought by MI for ₹30 lakh in 2025) position her as a strong long-term investment for franchises.
The WPL 2026 auction promises high drama with a powerful overseas pool shaping the strategies of all five franchises. Established superstars like Kerr, Ecclestone, Wolvaardt, and Healy will attract premium bids, while rising talents such as Litchfield and de Klerk represent the future value teams desperately seek.
As the league enters its next phase, these overseas players are poised to redefine team dynamics and potentially shift the competitive balance in what could be the most fiercely contested WPL season yet.
