The first-ever season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will kick start next month, with five teams competing for the championship. The teams participating are based in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Although there is still some time to spare for the commencement of the maiden tournament, the franchises have already started their preparations for the WPL 2023.
Legendary Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami will join the Mumbai Indians franchise as a bowling coach and mentor in the inaugural edition of the WPL. She retired from all forms of international cricket in September last year and played her farewell game at Lord’s. Jhulan is the leading wicket-taker in ODIs and has overall 355 international wickets to her name, which is the most by any bowler in international cricket.
Earlier, Jhulan’s former teammate and veteran cricketer Mithali Raj was roped in by Gujarat Giants (Ahmedabad-based team) as a mentor, and now she is also set to join Mumbai Indian franchise coaching staff. However, it was expected that both Jhulan and Mithali would come out of their retirement to take part in the upcoming event as players, but the news of their joining in as coaches put an end to the speculations.
As reported by ESPNCricinfo, former Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) president and cricketer Sourav Ganguly had offered a position to Jhulan in the Delhi-based team, but the veteran women cricketer turned down Dada’s proposal.
Speaking to reporters at Eden Gardens on Tuesday (January 31), Ganguly confirmed that Jhulan would join the Mumbai camp.
“Jhulan has gone to Mumbai. We had given her an offer, but she is going to Mumbai,” said Ganguly.
Notably, Ganguly was appointed as director of cricket of the Delhi Capitals for men’s IPL earlier this year.
The auction of the WPL 2023 is most likely to take place either in Mumbai or Delhi, and the dates are yet to be confirmed by the BCCI.
