Kim Garth, the Australian fast-medium bowling all-rounder, was among the high-profile overseas players released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Mega Auction. Garth, who replaced Kate Cross in the RCB squad for WPL 2025, is known for her disciplined, line-and-length seam bowling and ability to chip in with handy runs in the lower order.
Garth had previously impressed while playing for Gujarat Giants (GG) in the past, particularly with the ball, and has a T20I career of 57 matches with 49 wickets. Her release means she is available in the auction pool, making her a valuable target for teams seeking a reliable, cost-effective overseas pacer who can also contribute with the bat, filling a vital gap in most squad compositions.
3 teams that can target Kim Garth in the WPL 2026 Mega Auction
1. Gujarat Giants (GG)
Gujarat Giants enter the auction with a significant purse of INR 9.00 crore and a nearly blank slate for their bowling attack, having released almost all their Indian and overseas bowlers. They have a strong need to acquire proven seam-bowling options to support their retained core of Beth Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner.
Garth’s prior experience and success with the Giants, where she delivered solid performances with the ball, make her a high-priority, familiar target. GG needs reliable overseas pacers who can bowl consistent lines, and Garth offers this discipline and the bonus of being a decent lower-order batter, making her an efficient, two-dimensional overseas pick to stabilize their bowling unit.
Also READ: WPL 2026: 5 players Royal Challengers Bengaluru can target in Women’s Premier League mega auction
2. UP Warriorz (UPW)
UP Warriorz possess the largest auction purse of INR 14.50 crore and a complete need to rebuild their entire squad structure, having retained only one player. They released almost all their high-profile overseas players, including pace all-rounder Tahlia McGrath. UPW will be looking for a balanced mix of overseas players, and an experienced fast-medium bowler is a critical requirement.
Garth offers a dependable, non-marquee overseas pacer that UPW can secure for a reasonable price, allowing them to save their considerable funds for bigger targets like Sophie Ecclestone (via RTM) or a marquee captain. Garth would provide the necessary seam-bowling stability that the team will desperately need to complement their expected spin-heavy attack.
3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Despite releasing her, RCB may still target Garth, particularly given their auction purse of INR 6.15 crore and the potential difficulty in re-acquiring all their released high-profile players. RCB released several key overseas bowlers, including Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham, in addition to Garth.
If RCB uses their single RTM card on their premier Indian pacer, Renuka Singh Thakur, they will still need an experienced overseas pacer to support Ellyse Perry. Garth provides a familiar and disciplined seam-bowling backup who knows the team environment. She is a reliable option to fill the overseas bowling quota at a potentially cost-effective price, ensuring depth behind the core all-rounders.
Also READ: WPL 2026: 5 players Delhi Capitals can target in Women’s Premier League mega auction
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
