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The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is right around the corner with teams gearing up for an intense season of nail-biting contests between 5 teams. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Mumbai Indians (MI), Gujarat Giants (GG), UP Warriorz (UPW) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will fight against each other to determine the winner of the coveted contest and lay their hands on the decorated WPL trophy for the season.
In the previous season, RCB emerged victorious over DC in the final of the prestigious tournament and secured their maiden WPL title. Several ace players have given some of the most stellar performances in the past, emerging on the scene as a major face of the exciting league.
Teams are star-studded with experience and talent in this WPL season
Almost all WPL teams have carved out teams with a blend of seasoned players and promising talents. As a result, the contest is expected to be more exciting and action-packed than the previous season. While current champions RCB have the batting prowess of Smriti Mandhana and the all-around abilities of Ellyse Perry at their disposal, Mumbai Indians are star-studded with players like Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews.
Other teams are also not far behind, Gujarat Giants have players like Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, and Harleen Deol on their team, Capitals are loaded with players like Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp in their squad. UP Warriorz has also up their game with players like Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma in their squad. The teams’ remarkable star quality ensures these players will give their best to help their franchise succeed this time around. While star players gear up to outperform each other, the list of emerging young talents desperate to leave their mark through stellar performances is also long. In the light of these young talents in the teams, here is a list of 5 emerging players to watch out for in WPL 2025.
5 emerging talents to watch out for in WPL 2025:
(1) Shweta Sehrawat (UP Warriorz):
Shweta Sehrawat has rapidly emerged as one of India’s most promising young cricketers, showcasing exceptional talent and consistency across formats. She first gained attention in domestic cricket, making her debut for Delhi in 2021 and impressing with a maiden List-A century against Meghalaya. Her performances at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) further solidified her reputation, where she displayed remarkable composure and run-scoring ability, earning selection for the Under-19 zonal competition. Sehrawat’s leadership skills came to the forefront when she captained India A and B teams to titles in the Women’s Under-19 Quadrangular Series and Challenger Trophy, finishing as the top scorer in both tournaments.
She continued her dominance on the international stage, leading India’s Under-19 team to a historic 5–0 T20 series win against New Zealand. In the 2023 ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, she delivered a match-winning unbeaten 92 against South Africa, becoming the first Indian to score a fifty in the tournament. A dynamic batter with a strong bottom-handed technique, she is known for her ability to play spin well and dominate bowlers with an aggressive approach, often drawing comparisons to Harmanpreet Kaur. Under the guidance of her coach Dipti Dhyani, Sehrawat has refined her game and is poised to make a significant impact in the WPL 2025. With her fearless stroke play, adaptability, and leadership qualities, she has the potential to be a standout performer on the grand stage of franchise cricket.
(2) Niki Prasad (Delhi Capitals):
Niki Prasad has swiftly risen through the ranks as a talented young cricketer, demonstrating immense potential as an emerging star for Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2025. Her journey began at the renowned Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where she honed her skills under the guidance of experienced coaches, including Vinayak Sir. The transition from tennis-ball to leather-ball cricket proved to be a defining moment in her career, as her technical refinement and competitive mindset flourished. A natural leader, Niki consistently showcased tactical awareness and composure under pressure, leading Karnataka in age-group tournaments with remarkable success.
Her leadership came to the forefront in the 2022 Women’s Under-19 T20 Trophy pre-quarterfinal against Bengal, where her strategic deployment of bowlers secured victory despite a low total of just 59 runs. Her breakthrough moment arrived in the 2024 T20 Challenger Trophy, where she emerged as the top scorer, amassing 162 runs in four matches at a blistering strike rate of 125.58. Her ability to clear boundaries with ease and play fearless, aggressive cricket highlighted her transition into a dynamic power-hitter, a highly valuable asset in modern T20 cricket.
Niki’s leadership credentials were further reinforced when she captained India A to victory in the 2024 Women’s U19 T20 Asia Cup in Malaysia. Under her astute captaincy, India dominated the tournament, culminating in a commanding 41-run triumph over Bangladesh in the final. Her ability to execute game-changing decisions, coupled with her aggressive batting prowess, makes her a promising prospect for Delhi Capitals. With her blend of leadership, adaptability, and match-winning ability, Niki is poised to leave a significant mark in WPL 2025 and beyond. Her confidence is on the seventh sky as she was the leader of the Indian team which won the U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia recently.
Also Read: WPL 2025: Mumbai Indians’ best playing XI for Women’s Premier League ft. Harmanpreet Kaur
(3) Shreyanka Patil (Royal Challengers Bengaluru):
Shreyanka Patil has quickly established herself as one of India’s most promising all-rounders, showcasing remarkable consistency and match-winning abilities across domestic, franchise, and international cricket. She made her senior debut for Karnataka in 2019 and soon gained attention with standout performances, including a stunning 4/7 spell for South Zone in the 2022 Senior Inter Zonal T20 competition. Her all-round capabilities were further highlighted in January 2023, when she scored her maiden List-A half-century with a well-compiled 73 against Arunachal Pradesh.
Patil’s rise to prominence accelerated after being signed by RCB for the inaugural WPL in 2023, where she played a key role with six wickets in seven matches. Her breakthrough moment came in the 2024 WPL, where she won the prestigious Purple Cap as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, claiming 13 wickets in eight matches. Her sensational 4/12 in the final against Delhi Capitals proved pivotal in securing RCB’s maiden WPL title.
A genuine wicket-taking threat with a sharp bowling mind and the ability to contribute with the bat, Patil has all the makings of a star player for RCB in WPL 2025. With her fearless attitude, skillful variations, and proven match-winning capabilities, she is set to be a cornerstone of the team’s success in the coming seasons.
(4) G. Kamalini (Mumbai Indians):
G Kamalini has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket, showcasing immense potential as a future star for Mumbai Indians in WPL 2025. The 16-year-old all-rounder from Tamil Nadu turned heads with her explosive performances in domestic cricket, finishing as the second-highest scorer in the U19 Women’s T20 Trophy with 311 runs in eight matches. Her power-hitting ability, highlighted by 10 sixes in the tournament, played a crucial role in Tamil Nadu’s title triumph. Kamalini’s versatility extends beyond batting She can also keep wickets and bowl spin, making her a valuable all-round asset.
Her match-winning 79 in the U19 tri-series final against South Africa further solidified her reputation, earning her a place in India’s squad for the inaugural U19 Asia Cup in Malaysia. She continued to impress on the international stage, delivering a blazing 29-ball 44 against Pakistan in the same tournament.
Recognizing her talent, MI secured her for INR 1.60 crore after an intense bidding war with DC in the WPL 2025 auction, making her one of the most sought-after young players. Currently refining her game at the Super Kings Academy, Kamalini possesses the skill, temperament, and fearless approach needed to excel in high-pressure T20 leagues. With MI’ strong setup and a platform to develop further, she is poised to shine and establish herself as a game-changer in WPL 2025 and beyond.
(5) Priya Mishra (Gujarat Giants):
Priya Mishra has rapidly ascended the ranks of women’s cricket, establishing herself as a promising leg-spin bowler. She represents Delhi in domestic cricket and was signed by the Giants for INR 20 lakh in the WPL auction in February 2024. Although she didn’t feature in the inaugural WPL season, her domestic performances have been noteworthy. In the 2023–24 Senior Women’s One Day Trophy, she emerged as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 23 wickets in eight matches.
Her impressive form continued during India A’s tour of Australia, where she secured a five-wicket haul (5/14) in an unofficial ODI against Australia A on August 18, 2024. These consistent performances earned her a call-up to the national team, and she made her One Day International debut against New Zealand on October 27, 2024. With her ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs and maintain composure under pressure, Priya Mishra is poised to be a key player for the Giants in the WPL 2025, bringing both skill and youthful energy to the team.
