The Sri Lanka captain brings a rare combination of batting, bowling and leadership into the WPL 2027 auction pool in Kochi.
The WPL 2027 player auction is scheduled to take place in Kochi, Kerala, on October 28, 2026. A total of 146 players will compete for 27 available slots across franchises, with 7 of those slots reserved for overseas players.
Among the 27 overseas players in the pool, Chamari Athapaththu stands out as one of the most experienced names. The left-handed batting all-rounder from Sri Lanka has been active in international cricket since 2009 and will be 36 years old on auction day.
3 reasons why Chamari Athapaththu will attract big bids in WPL auction 2027:
3. Proven all-round ability in T20 cricket
Chamari Athapaththu has accumulated 4,311 runs in 172 WT20I matches at a strike rate of 115.10, with 4 centuries and 16 fifties to her name. Her highest score is 119 not out. She also holds a remarkable bowling record of 92 wickets in T20 internationals, with best figures of 7/5 and an economy rate of 6.66.
In the WBBL 2023-24 season with Sydney Thunder, Athapaththu scored 552 runs in 14 innings at an average of 42.46 and a strike rate of 127.18, including five half-centuries, while also picking up 9 wickets at an economy of 6. That franchise record underlines her value as a genuine match-winner in T20 leagues.