The wait is finally over as the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League is set to take place in March 2023 while its auction round is just around the corner. It is being speculated that this will be a revolutionary turn for Women’s Cricket around the globe and will be following the footsteps of its sister league IPL.
The administrative authority BCCI received a whopping total of 1525 registration for the inaugural WPL player auction, of which they have shortlisted 409 candidates to go under the hammer. The event will be held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on the 13th of February 2023, from 2:30 PM onwards.
It is widely regarded that the all-rounder holds a special value in international cricket’s fastest formats as their flexible skills add an exotic dynamic to 20-over cricket. Hence, Parimatch News brings you the list of the Top 5 all-rounders to watch out for in the forthcoming WPL auction.
#5. Nat Sciver-Brunt
The English vice-captain having the experience of over 100+ WT20I games is set to attract big bids in the inaugural edition of WPL. Sciver-Brunt has enrolled her name in the highest category of the bid of wars and as the hottest commodity from the English nation.
The 30-year-old English supernova has scalped 1,959 runs and 78 wickets at a bowling average of 20.94 from 103 international WT20I appearances under her name. She also currently stands as the only player from The Three Lioness camp to make it to the list of the Top 10 highest-ranked all-rounders in the fastest format of women’s international cricket.
The fast-bowling all-rounder also has a tiny experience of playing 20-over league cricket when she participated in the 2019 Women’s T20 Challenge and conquested the trophy for Supernovas. She will be the perfect match for the franchise looking for an accurate medium-pacer and a sturdy middle-order batter for the foreign slot at the auction table.
#4 Ellyse Perry
The inaugural WPL season will be adorned with the presence of Ellyse Perry
The list features another former Supernova player who showcased her prowess in the WT20 Challenge but managed to play only a one-off game. Perry bagged the wickets of big fishes Smriti Mandhana and Suzie Bates while scoring the winning runs for the Women in Sky Blues at the historic cricketing event on Indian soil.
The 33-year Aussie all-rounder made her women’s T20 international debut at the age of 18 and has appeared in a record 132 WT20I games to date. She plays the shortest format primarily as a bowling all-rounder and currently stands third on the WT20I wicket-taking charts of all time notching 119 wickets at an astonishing average of 19.11.
Her proficiency in all departments across three formats has earned her the honor of being widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s cricketers to grace this sport. Hence, the Southern Stars’ starlet is expected to make huge headlines when her name will be popping up for the auction battle.
#3 Deepti Sharma
Deepti’s expertise in capitalizing on home pitches and conditions makes her the youngest feature in the list of these elite all-rounders. The Agra-born feminine made her 20-over international debut in the year 2016 and quickly rose to the top to establish herself as a prominent all-rounder in the country.
Sharma has currently occupied the second position in the all-rounders category of ICC WT20I player rankings having 406 rating points under her helm. She is the only player from India to make it to the Top-20 highest-ranked all-rounders of this format and is just 14 points away from the top-placed Ashley Gardner.
The 26-year-old off-spinner leads the Indian spin-bowling attack and enjoys lightening fireworks with her willow in the lower middle-order. Deepti led the Velocity side into the finals of the 2022 Women’s T20 Challenge which also strengthen her contention to become one of the five captains for WPL 2023.
#2 Sophie Devine
The 33-year-old Kiwi holds legendary status for the White Ferns and is considered the league’s greatest all-rounder in Women’s cricket of this generation. After swaying the cricketing competitions around the globe, the all-format skipper of New Zealand Women is aiming to extend her rule in India as well.
Devine is having an illustrious WT20I career spanning 17 years and has vast experience of playing 20-over domestic tournaments in four countries. The Porirua-born all-rounder also became the fastest Woman to score the fifty milestones after smashing an 18-ball half-century against India in 2015.
Sophie was picked by the Supernova side in the initial editions of the Women’s T20 Challenge and played a pivotal role in crowning the champions of the first two seasons. She made four appearances for Supernovas fetching 63 runs and 2 wickets including a classy bowling spell of 1 for 19 against Velocity in the finals of the 2019 edition.
#1 Harmanpreet Kaur
Killer Kaur eying on yet another domestic T20 trophy
The top position in this list belongs to the female superstar who is ruling this format and the hearts of the fans around the world. The Punjab-born all-rounder holds the record for making the most number of WT20I career appearances (137) and is widely regarded as one of the greatest to play this pacy cricketing format.
Harman is the most successful skipper of the defunct WT20 Challenge competition having led the Supernovas side to the champions podium thrice in four seasons. She topped the run-scoring charts of the tournament with 352 runs from 10 innings and also claimed the player of the match honor of the 2019 season finale.
The 33-year-old is renowned for not only turning the tables around with her explosive batting style but also giving crucial breakthroughs with the ball. A T20 perfect batting style, handy bowling ascendancy, and a marvellous captaincy record in a domestic player are traits that will force every WPL franchise to join the bidding war for the services of Harmanpreet Kaur.
Special Mentions: Ashleigh Gardner, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates
