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- Published: February 13, 2023 13:52
New Delhi: The auctions for the first Women’s Premier League are here while the players are busy playing in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. February 13 is set to mark a big day in cricket with the proceedings of WPL officially beginning. The highest base price for players is Rs 50 lakh and top players are expected to pocket crores of money.
Star players like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Ellyse Perry, Meg Lanning, Sophie Devine and others are listed in the highest bracket. Here is the list of 5 players expected to break the bank at WPL Auctions 2023:
1. Smriti Mandhana
India’s star opener is one of the big faces of cricket and with the talent and record Smriti carries, she can be the player sold for the highest price this year. With 2651 runs in 112 T20Is, she is one of the best in her field and can not only anchor the inning but can destroy the bowlers with her power-hitting.
Her talent and contribution cannot be restricted in words and she might have a day to remember at auctions today.
2. Deepti Sharma
One of the best bowlers and all-rounders in T20 cricket, currently, Deepti Sharma is ready to make franchises go for a bidding war. She has been one of the major contributors in India’s victories lately. She is accurate with her spin and can contribute with the bat whenever her team is in a trouble. Her ability to bowl maiden overs will be the key selectors will be looking for.
3. Ashleigh Gardner
Currently ranked as the number 1 all-rounder in T20Is, she has been one of the best with the ball and a power-hitter with the bat. Gardner also took a five-wicket haul against New Zealand as Australia began their T20 World Cup campaign with a win. She has scored 1069 runs in 52 innings and has picked 48 wickets in 56 innings in her T20I career.
4. Harmanpreet Kaur
The most experienced T20I player on the list, Harmanpreet Kaur, is one of the most fierce middle-order batters at the moment. She has scored 2956 runs in 132 innings, including a century. The Indian captain is leading one of the best teams in the circuit and franchises will need a leader like her to get their team to the trophy.
Her ability to play big innings at a quick pace and also bowl a few overs are the X-factors she provides.
5. Amelia Kerr
New Zealand’s young all-rounder has been a pillar of their success lately. Being a leg-break bowler, she has been in demand in T20 leagues across the globe and has been doing well there. She has 565 runs in 38 innings and has picked 55 wickets in 55 T20I innings, while Kerr has been tremendous for Wellington in the domestic T20 league. She is expected to go big among the young players out there.