MUMBAI: The Womens Premier League (WPL) was talked about for a long period of time.

It was finally set in motion by the BCCI in October 2022 and ever since it has advanced at a vigorous pace.In the 3rd week of January this year, Viacom18 won the media rights for Rs 951 crore for a period of 5 years.

A week after that, BCCI offered the franchise rights for 5 groups for Rs 4,669.99 crore.

Those 2 offers made the WPL the second-most important ladiess league after WNBA-- without a ball being bowled.On Monday, 409 players will go under the hammer at the Jio World Convention Centre.India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, her deputy Smriti Mandhana, all-rounder Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues will be amongst the hot picks as far as Indian gamers are worried.

They are among the 10 Indians-- 24 total-- who have entered the auction at a highest base cost of Rs 50 lakh.Among the international players, Australians will be on the top of the list for the franchises and they include the similarity all-rounders Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry; Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, skipper Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney-- the top-scorer in Womens Big Bash League (WBBL)-- to name a few.

All keep an eye on Englands left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone-- the very best spinner in womens cricket; her compatriots Nat Sciver-Brunt and skipper Heather Knight.

There are Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates from New Zealand; South Africas Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp.All stated and done, like the IPL, all-rounders will be in need during the WPL auction as well.The franchises will depend on the information from Indian domestic T20 competitions, the WBBL and the Womens Hundred as they look to get their combinations right for first edition which will be played at the Brabourne and the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai from March 4 to 26.

The minimum number of players on the roster ought to be 15 (they can have maximum 18 players onboard) and they should spend at least Rs 9 crore off the Rs 12 crore handbag readily available to them.

The groups can buy 6 immigrants out of which one will be from an associate nation.

During the match, teams can field 4 immigrants and the number can increase to 5 if the gamer is from an associate nation.