As the third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction is set to take place on December 15, 2024, a total of 120 players are in the fray for a maximum of 19 slots that the five WPL teams have to fill up with. Four WPL franchises are in the market for four players, while one has three slots available. Here’s what each WPL franchise is in the market for as they look to strengthen their squads ahead of WPL 2025.
Delhi Capitals
Slots remaining: 4 (1 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 2.5 crore
Retained players: Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Marizanne Kapp, Titas Sadhu, Alice Capsey, Minnu Mani, Taniya Bhatia, Jess Jonassen, Sneha Deepthi, Arundhati Reddy, Annabel Sutherland
What Do They Need?
DC are searching for a backend wicketkeeper and a hard-hitting middle-order batter for depth in the squad. They will also look at another frontline fast bowler to support Marizanne Kapp and Shikha Pandey. Candidates like Lauren Bell, Kim Garth, or the left-arm pacer Lauren Cheatle could be of interest. They could also target a leggie such as Alana King after the release of Poonam Yadav.
Gujarat Giants (GG)
Slots Remaining: 4 (2 overseas)
Purse Remaining: INR 4.4 crore
Retained Players Ashleigh Gardner Beth Mooney Harleen Deol Dayalan Hemalatha Tanuja Kanwar Shabnam Shakil Laura Wolvaardt Phoebe Litchfield Meghna Singh Mannat Kashyap Kashvee Gautam Priya Mishra Sayali Satghare Bharti Fulmali
What Do They Need?
GG had a tough time with their bowling during WPL 2024, especially in the death overs. The focus at the auction will remain on getting bigger bowling stocks with stronger economy rates. Darcie Brown is one good option as she bowls at a speed. Tess Flintoff is also there who has the value of seam bowling along with hard-hitting capability.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Available slots: 4 (1 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 2.65 crore
Retained players: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Yastika Bhatia, Amanjot Kaur, Saika Ishaque, Hayley Matthews, Chloe Tryon, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnim Ismail, Sajeevan Sajana, Amandeep Kaur, SB Keerthana
What Do They Need?
MI have leaned heavily on their strength with the bat at the top-order, and they would look to bolster their lower-middle order by bringing in a reliable finisher. Seam bowling and lower-order firepower from players like Nadine de Klerk would strengthen the side. Maybe, along with her batting skills, they might look for a back-up wicketkeeper in Nandini Kashyap, who impressed with her batting in domestic T20s.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Remaining slots: 4 (0 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 3.25 crore
Players retained: Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Kanika Ahuja, Asha Sobhana, Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, S Meghana, Sophie Molineux
Players traded in: Danni Wyatt (from UP Warriorz)
What Do They Need?
RCB’s pace line-up that has very much banked on Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine in WPL 2024 will require augmenting. A frontline fast bowler to go along with Renuka Singh is a necessity. Yashasri from the Under 19 T20 World Cup-winning team or Falak Naz, both have been pretty handy. The side can also look for a middle-order batter, and Tanusree Sarkar and Tejal Hasabnis could fit the bill.
UP Warriorz (UPW)
Slots remaining: 3 (1 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 3.9 crore
Retained players: Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti Sharma, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Grace Harris, Vrinda Dinesh, Poonam Khemnar, Saima Thakor, Gouher Sultana, Chamari Athapaththu, Uma Chetry
What Do They Need?
UPW’s reliance on overseas stars makes them look for a few Indian batters to strengthen their batting line-up. They do need some finisher to share more responsibility from Deepti Sharma. They would surely go in for a good fast-bowling option after releasing Bell. Dottin can be a great choice, as she is a tremendous power player in the lower order and also with seam-bowling options. Alternatively, Chinelle Henry or Orla Prendergast, both accomplished all-rounders could also be looked at.
As the auction looms, all franchises will strategize on their bids and would be keen to fill gaps and make their squads more formidable for the season of 2025.
Which player are you keen to see in your favorite WPL team the next season?
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
