November 29, 2024: The upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction is certainly generating a lot of excitement, and with the auction scheduled for December 15, 2024, in Bengaluru, the teams are gearing up for what could be a crucial event in shaping their squads for the next season.
Auction Key Details:
- Date: December 15, 2024
- Location: Bengaluru
- Budget per Franchise: Rs 15 crore (an increase from Rs 13.5 crore last year)
- Top International Players:
- Heather Knight (England)
- Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand)
- Deandra Dottin (West Indies)
- Prominent Indian Players:
- Sneh Rana
- Poonam Yadav
- Veda Krishnamurthy
These top international and Indian players are likely to draw considerable attention during the bidding process.
Franchise Budgets & Key Players:
- Delhi Capitals (DC) – Rs 2.5 crore (smallest purse)
- Key Retained Players: Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland, Meg Lanning, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma.
- Released Players: Laura Harris, Poonam Yadav.
- Gujarat Giants (GG) – Rs 4.4 crore (largest purse)
- Key Retained Players: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Harleen Deol, Dayalan Hemalatha, Laura Wolvaardt.
- Released Players: Sneh Rana, Veda Krishnamurthy, Lea Tahuhu.
- Mumbai Indians (MI) – Rs 3.25 crore
- Key Retained Players: Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Natalie Sciver.
- Released Players: Isabelle Wong, Fatima Jaffer.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – Rs 3.25 crore
- Key Retained Players: Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh, Sophie Molineux.
- Released Players: Disha Kasat, Simran Bahadur.
- UP Warriorz (UPW) – Rs 3.25 crore
- Key Retained Players: Alyssa Healy, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris.
- Released Players: Lauren Bell, Laxmi Yadav.
Notable Pre-Auction Movements:
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the England all-rounder, made headlines as the only player to be transferred during the pre-season trade window. She moved from UP Warriorz to RCB in an all-cash deal.
The WPL auction will be a vital event for these franchises, as they look to fill gaps in their squads and strengthen their team dynamics. The combination of international superstars, seasoned Indian players, and promising new talent will be a key factor in shaping the competitiveness of the league.
The decisions made regarding retained and released players are likely to have a lasting impact on team strategies for the season ahead, especially as franchises look to address specific weaknesses or bolster their star power. The teams with larger purses, like Gujarat Giants, have the flexibility to make multiple acquisitions, while others with smaller budgets, like Delhi Capitals, will have to be strategic in their bids.
The auction promises to be an exciting and pivotal moment for the WPL, and with so many top-tier players in the mix, it will surely keep fans and franchises alike on the edge of their seats!
