At the WPL auction in Mumbai, uncapped Indian talents Kashvee Gautam and Vrinda Dinesh emerged as top picks, securing bids of INR 2 crore (Gujarat Giants) and INR 1.3 crore (UP Warriorz) respectively.
Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland commanded the highest overseas bid at INR 2 crore, with Delhi Capitals spending 88.8% of their remaining purse of INR 2.25 crore to secure her.
Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce was the sole Associate player chosen at the auction, picked by Giants at her base price of INR 10 lakh. Among capped India players, Ekta Bisht attracted the highest bid at INR 60 lakh from Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Veda Krishnamurthy (Giants) and S Meghana (RCB) were acquired at base prices (INR 30 lakh) in the final accelerated round of auctions.
Gujarat Giants emerged as the most active team in the auction, offloading more than half their squad to secure a substantial purse. Their notable acquisition was 20-year-old seam-bowling allrounder Kashvee, who attracted a record INR 2 crore bid, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur’s bid (INR 1.8 crore) at the inaugural auction.
Kashvee, known for her swing bowling, has worked on improving her pace, making her a sought-after player. She showcased her skills at the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, picking up 12 wickets with an economy rate of 4.14.
Vrinda Dinesh, another uncapped Indian talent, secured a bid of INR 1.3 crore from UP Warriorz. Known for her consistent and powerful batting, the 22-year-old has already made her mark in India A and Karnataka’s domestic cricket.
Phoebe Litchfield, the Australian left-hander, was the first player auctioned, signing with Giants for INR 1 crore. Litchfield, who gained attention as a social media sensation, impressed in the WBBL and made significant contributions in international cricket.
WPL 2024 auction: Dottin, Athapaththu go unsold
Notably, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu faced disappointment for the second consecutive time, failing to secure a bid in the accelerated rounds of the auction. Other notable exclusions included Deandra Dottin, former West Indies captain, and Australia all-rounder Kim Garth.
A surprise miss was Devika Vaidya, the all-rounder, who had been released by the Warriorz despite a previous bid of INR 1.6 crore in the inaugural season.
The WPL’s second season is scheduled for February 2024, and while venues are yet to be decided, Mumbai and Bengaluru are rumored to be in contention.
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