Women’s Premier League 2024: Squad Analysis and Players to Watch
In the anticipation of the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 season, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await the unveiling of team rosters and the emergence of promising talents. As the cricket fever grips the nation, let’s delve into a comprehensive analysis of each squad and identify the standout players to keep an eye on.
Delhi Capitals: Rising Strong
How They Fared in WPL 2023: The Delhi Capitals clinched the runners-up position, showcasing their prowess after dominating the league stage.
Full Squad:
- Alice Capsey*
- Arundhati Reddy
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Jess Jonassen*
- Laura Harris*
- Marizanne Kapp*
- Meg Lanning*
- Minnu Mani
- Poonam Yadav
- Radha Yadav
- Shafali Verma
- Shikha Pandey
- Sneha Deepthi
- Taniya Bhatia (wk)
- Titas Sadhu
- Annabel Sutherland*
- Aparna Mondal (wk)
- Ashwani Kumari
- Key Players: Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, Poonam Yadav
- Strengths: Abundance of all-rounders, bolstered by the inclusion of Arundhati Reddy and Titas Sadhu.
- Areas to Improve: Lack of backup for leg-spinner Poonam Yadav, and dependency on wicketkeepers for batting support.
New Player to Watch: Ashwani Kumari, hailed for her stellar performance in the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20 Trophy, promises to be a formidable force with her exceptional batting skills.
Gujarat Giants: Seeking Redemption
How They Fared in WPL 2023: The Gujarat Giants struggled, finishing at the bottom with only two wins out of eight games.
Full Squad:
- Ashleigh Gardner*
- Beth Mooney*
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Harleen Deol
- Laura Wolvaardt*
- Shabnam MD
- Sneh Rana
- Tanuja Kanwar
- Phoebe Litchfield*
- Meghna Singh
- Trisha Poojitha
- Kashvee Gautam
- Priya Mishra
- Kathryn Bryce*
- Mannat Kashyap
- Veda Krishnamurthy
- Tarannum Pathan
- Lea Tahuhu*
- Key Players: Ashleigh Gardner, Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, Veda Krishnamurthy
- Strengths: Depth in opening batsmen and experienced finishers in the lineup.
- Areas to Improve: Adaptation to Indian conditions by new recruits Kathryn Bryce and Lea Tahuhu, and the need for consistent performances from the bowling unit.
New Player to Watch: Kashvee Gautam’s impressive pace and domestic tournament performances make her a player to watch out for in the Giants’ lineup.
Mumbai Indians: Defending Champions
How They Fared in WPL 2023: Mumbai Indians clinched the title in a spectacular fashion in the previous season.
Full Squad
- Amanjot Kaur
- Amelia Kerr*
- Chloe Tryon*
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Hayley Matthews*
- Humaira Kazi
- Issy Wong*
- Jintimani Kalita
- Nat Sciver-Brunt*
- Pooja Vastrakar
- Priyanka Bala
- Saika Ishaque
- Yastika Bhatia
- Shabnim Ismail*
- S Sajana
- Amandeep Kaur
- Fatima Jaffer
- SB Keerthana
- Key Players: Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Pooja Vastrakar, Shabnim Ismail
- Strengths: Reinforcement with the addition of Shabnim Ismail and Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, alongside a strong all-round performance.
- Areas to Improve: Lack of backup for wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia and over-reliance on right-handed batters.
New Player to Watch: Amandeep Kaur’s unique left-arm wrist spin promises to add a dynamic edge to the Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Aiming for Glory
How They Fared in WPL 2023: Royal Challengers Bangalore secured the fourth spot, narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.
Full Squad
- Asha Shobana
- Disha Kasat
- Ellyse Perry*
- Indrani Roy
- Kanika Ahuja
- Renuka Singh
- Richa Ghosh
- Shreyanka Patil
- Smriti Mandhana
- Sophie Devine*
- Georgia Wareham*
- Kate Cross*
- Ekta Bisht
- Shubha Satheesh
- S Meghana
- Simran Bahadur
- Sophie Molineux*
- Nadine de Klerk*
- Key Players: Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Sophie Molineux, Nadine de Klerk
- Strengths: Addition of bowlers Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux for better control, and depth in batting with Nadine de Klerk’s inclusion.
- Areas to Improve: Limited seam-bowling resources and the need for additional contributions from key players.
New Player to Watch: Shubha Satheesh’s versatility as a batsman, fielder, and seam bowler presents an exciting prospect for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
UP Warriorz: Eyeing Redemption
How They Fared in WPL 2023: UP Warriorz faced elimination in the Eliminator stage, aiming for a stronger showing this season.
Full Squad
- Alyssa Healy*
- Anjali Sarvani
- Deepti Sharma
- Grace Harris*
- Kiran Navgire
- Laxmi Yadav
- Parshavi Chopra
- Rajeshwari Gayakwad
- S Yashasri
- Shweta Sehrawat
- Sophie Ecclestone*
- Tahlia McGrath*
- Danni Wyatt*
- Vrinda Dinesh
- Poonam Khemnar
- Saima Thakor
- Gouher Sultana
- Chamari Athapaththu*
- Key Players: Alyssa Healy, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Chamari Athapaththu
- Strengths: Abundance of top-order options and variety in the spin department.
- Areas to Improve: Lack of an overseas fast-bowling option and the need for consistent performances from the bowling unit.
New Player to Watch: Vrinda Dinesh’s explosive batting performances in domestic tournaments make her a player to watch out for in the UP Warriorz lineup.
As the stage is set for the thrilling action of the Women’s Premier League 2024, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing the emergence of new talents and the fierce competition among these formidable squads. Brace yourselves for an enthralling season filled with breathtaking cricketing moments!
