England captain Heather Knight and bowlers Lauren Bell and Sarah Glenn were among the players to miss out in Sunday’s Women’s Premier League auction.

Batters Maia Boucher, Sophia Dunkley and Paige Scholfield also went unsold in the auction for the India-based competition, as did fast bowler Lauren Filer and big-hitting South African Lizelle Lee.

However, all-rounder Danielle Gibson was bought by Gujarat Giants for about £28,000.

Gujarat were the most active team in the draft, making the two biggest purchases.

They bought uncapped Indian all-rounder Simran Shaikh for £178,000, alongside West Indies’ Deandra Dottin for £158,000.

“We’ve been watching the local competitions closely, the T20s and the Challengers,” said Giants head coach Michael Klinger.

“She [Shaikh] stands out in terms of her hitting power and strike-rate, and complements the other local Indian players [we’ve got in the squad].

“To have someone like her, potentially in our top six-seven, who can hit sixes straightaway, completes us. We were targeting her.”

Mumbai Indians signed 16-year-old all-rounder G Kamalini for £158,000, while spinner Prema Rawat was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (£118,000).

England quintet Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals), Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Kate Cross (both RCB) and Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz) were retained last month.

The 2025 WPL begins on 21 February, with the final on 16 March.