December 15, 2024: In the 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) mini-auction, defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured Prema Rawat, an uncapped all-rounder, for Rs 1.2 crores. The 20-year-old had a bidding war between RCB and Delhi Capitals (DC), with RCB ultimately winning the race for her services.
Prema Rawat caught the attention of teams due to her standout performances in the domestic circuit. She played a pivotal role in the Mussoorie Thunders’ victory in the inaugural Uttarakhand Premier League, where she picked up four wickets in just three matches. Her ability with both bat and ball made her an attractive prospect for franchises looking to add depth to their squads.
Other Notable Auction Picks:
- N Charani, a 20-year-old spinner, was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs 55 lakhs.
- Some notable players like Sonal Thakur, Ira Jadhav, Pratika Rawal, S Yashasri, Raghvi Bist, and Australian batter Laura Harris went unsold in the auction.
RCB, who won the WPL 2024 title by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final, now bolster their squad with Prema Rawat, who brings both youth and potential to the team. This move will likely add more balance and options in their middle order and bowling department.
The retained players for all five franchises were announced last month, and teams have secured their core lineups for the upcoming season.
RCB retained a strong squad, including key players like Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh, and Richa Ghosh.
RCB’s budget for the auction was Rs 15 crore, an increase from the Rs 13.5 crore last year.
Here’s a snapshot of the retained and released players by each franchise ahead of the 2024 WPL season:
Delhi Capitals (DC): Retained players like Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, and Shafali Verma; released Laura Harris and Poonam Yadav.
Gujarat Giants (GG): Retained Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Harleen Deol, and Meghna Singh; released Sneh Rana and Lea Tahuhu.
Mumbai Indians (MI): Retained stars like Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Natalie Sciver, and Hayley Matthews; released Isabelle Wong and Fatima Jaffer.
RCB: Retained core players like Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh, and Richa Ghosh; released Disha Kasat and Simran Bahadur.
UP Warriorz (UPW): Retained Alyssa Healy, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, and Tahlia McGrath; released S Yashasri and Lauren Bell.
The auction also saw high-profile international players up for bidding. England’s Heather Knight, New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu, and West Indies’ Deandra Dottin were among the top stars expected to attract significant bids, with the competition heating up as teams aim to strengthen their squads further.
With the auction now complete, the stage is set for an exciting 2024 WPL season, where teams like RCB will look to defend their title, while others, like Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz, will aim to challenge them for supremacy.
