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Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the upcoming auction of the second edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 9, 2023, in Mumbai. The WPL 2024 is anticipated to kick off in February or March of the following year. The first edition of the tournament witnessed the Mumbai Indians emerge victorious, clinching the title after defeating the Delhi Capitals in a thrilling final by 7 wickets.
Five franchises gear up for auction battle
All eyes are on the auction, where a total of 165 players, including 104 Indian players and 61 overseas stars, will go under the hammer. The five participating franchises—Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore—are gearing up for what promises to be an intense bidding event.
Franchise purses and overseas player slots
Notably, each franchise has the capacity to acquire 30 players, with nine slots reserved for overseas players. The Gujarat Giants boast the highest purse of INR 5.95 crore, while the Mumbai Indians hold the lowest purse at INR 2.1 crore.
Top overseas players in the spotlight
As anticipation builds, cricket aficionados are curious about the overseas players who will be in the spotlight during the auction. Let’s have a look at some of the star overseas players who are expected to attract attention from franchises.
Also READ: WPL 2024 – Complete list of players to register for Women’s Premier League auction
10 overseas players franchises could bid for in WPL 2024 auction:
Kim Garth (Australia) – Base price: INR 50 lakh: A versatile Australian all-rounder, Garth is known for her impactful performances with both bat and ball. In the previous season, Garth represented Gujarat Giants and was their leading wicket-taker. In 7 games, Garth picked up 11 wickets with 5/36 being her best.
Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) – Base price: INR 30 lakh: A pace powerhouse from South Africa, Ismail’s ability to trouble batsmen with her express pace makes her a valuable asset. She played for UP Warriorz in the previous season but didn’t get plenty of games. In 3 matches, Ismail took three wickets at an economy of 8.76.
Annabel Sutherland (Australia) – Base price: INR 40 lakh: An Australian sensation, Sutherland’s aggressive style and all-round abilities make her a sought-after prospect. However, she didn’t have a good season with Gujarat in 2023. Sutherland scored only 28 runs from 4 games and took only 3 wickets.
Tara Norris (USA) – Base price: INR 10 lakh: Representing the USA, Norris brings a unique element with her pace bowling, offering a fresh perspective to the league. Representing Delhi Capitals in the last edition, Norris played 5 games and bagged 7 wickets, including a 5-wicket haul.
Phoebe Litchfield (Australia) – Base price: INR 30 lakh: A young Australian batter, Litchfield is known for her stylish stroke play and has the potential to be a game-changer. Having not played WPL yet, the young sensation would be on every team’s radar.
Georgia Wareham (Australia) – Base price: INR 40 lakh: Renowned for her crafty leg-spin, Wareham adds a potent spin option to any team, complemented by her dynamic fielding. Wareham represented Gujarat in the previous season but didn’t get enough matches to show her potential. She played only two games and took a solitary wicket and scored 30 runs.
Danielle Wyatt (England) – Base price: INR 30 lakh: The explosive English batter is a T20 specialist, known for her aggressive batting and ability to dominate opposition attacks. Despite being a familiar name, Wyatt went unsold in the previous season and it’d be interesting to see whether any franchise acquire her services in the upcoming auction.
Alana King (Australia) – Base price: INR 30 lakh: Australian leg-spinner King brings spin finesse and control, creating pressure on batters with her variations. Franchises looking for a specialist spinner are likely to place their bets on the rising Aussie star.
Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka) – Base price: INR 30 lakh: The dynamic Sri Lankan captain is an aggressive all-rounder, known for her powerful batting and effective bowling. However, the Sri Lankan skipper failed to find any bidders at the auction in the previous season. But considering her heroics at the recently-concluded WBBL 2023 where she was crowned the Player of the Tournament, its highly possible that Chamari could finally get a buyer at WPL auction.
Tammy Beaumont (England) – Base price: INR 30 lakh: English wicketkeeper-batter Beaumont provides stability at the top order and is renowned for her consistent performances. She was another star player who went unsold last time. Keeping in mind of her recent few performances, Beaumont could be a player to watch out for in the upcoming bidding event.
