This edition was a mini-auction, ahead of season three of the WPL. As a result, the franchises were able to keep hold of the majority of their players. The maximum squad size allowed is 18 players, and four of the five sides went into the auction with 14 players already retained (UP Warriorz had 15), meaning there were almost no star or "marquee" options.

The five franchises also had most of their overseas slots filled. Royal Challengers Bengaluru had the maximum of six going into the auction, while Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz had five each. Gujarat Giants had four.

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Each team is also allowed to field four overseas players in their playing XI. Once again, the franchises had at least three, if not four, of these fairly certain before entering the auction. Crucially, they did not have a need to spend big on overseas talent, unless there was a player significantly better than their options.

Deandra Dottin was one such player, and she came first out of the bag. Gujarat Giants managed to secure her signing for INR 1.7 crore, just below the WPL record of INR 2 crore for an overseas player – a reflection of her skillset, the richest team bidding, and the time at which her name popped up. None of the other overseas players sold in the auction – Nadine de Klerk, Alana King, Danielle Gibson or Sarah Bryce – went for more than INR 30 lakhs.

So, almost exclusively Indian slots available + lack of Indian marquee options = uncapped players benefit. The franchises could afford to push each other, and splurge on the best domestic talent India had to offer.

The record for the most expensive uncapped player at the WPL auction was INR 2 crore, held by Kashvee Gautam from last season. Second place was INR 1.3 crore, held by Vrinda Dinesh but that mark was passed twice this time around.

16-year-old G Kamalini signed for MI for INR 1.6 crore, before Simran Shaikh moved to GG for INR 1.9 crore. Prema Rawat was sold to RCB for INR 1.2 crore as well. Each of these players have done well on the domestic circuit – for example, Kamalini led Tamil Nadu to the domestic U19 title with 311 runs in eight matches, and Rawat won the Uttarakhand Premier League with Mussoorie Thunders. Shaikh has already played nine WPL matches.

#TATAWPLAuction ✅

Here are the 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗕𝘂𝘆𝘀 after an exciting Auction day 😇#TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/FsxTYAAP0R

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) December 15, 2024

These three in particular also filled specific gaps for the sides which bought them. Kamalini, as a wicketkeeper, can be developed as a backup to Yastika Bhatia for MI, Shaikh gives GG some much-needed firepower lower down the order and Rawat is a useful squad addition as cover for currently-injured leggie Asha Shobhana.

It may seem a strange world in which domestic players are paid significantly more than overseas stars, but the auction system means player quality and current ability are not the only factors under consideration.

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