WPL auction set to take place on 9 December: BCCI

The Women's Premier League auction is set to take place on 9 December in Mumbai. All the teams have released their retention list. The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the decision on Friday, 24 November via their social media channels. The tournament had garnered massive interest amongst cricket fans in its inaugural season where 5 teams participated.

WPL 2023, or the Women's Premier League, marked a significant milestone in women's cricket, bringing together top talent from around the globe for a thrilling T20 competition. Held from March 4 to March 26, 2023, the event was not just about cricket; it was a celebration of women's sports, showcasing skill, teamwork, and the spirit of competition.

The inaugural season saw the Mumbai Indians emerge victorious, clinching the title after a series of intense matches. The final, played on March 26, was a nail-biting encounter where Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals, securing their win by seven wickets with three balls to spare. This victory was a testament to the team's consistent performance throughout the tournament.

Hayley Matthews of the Mumbai Indians was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for her



outstanding all-round contributions. Another highlight was Sophie Devine winning the Tata Safari Car for the Harrier Super Striker Award, an accolade that recognised her exceptional batting prowess.

The auction preceding the tournament was as exciting as the matches themselves, with Smriti Mandhana becoming the top earner, joining Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping INR 3.4 crore. Other notable purchases included Ashleigh Gardner, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Beth Mooney, who were among the biggest overseas signings.

The following players from the five WPL franchises were retained and released from the squad:

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Retained Players: 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, Taniyaa Bhatia, Titas Sadhu

Released Players: Aparna Mondal, Jasia Akhter, Tara Norris*

Gujarat Giants (GG)

Retained Players: Ashleigh Gardner*, Beth Mooney*, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt*, Shabnam Shakil, Sneh Rana, Tanuja Kanwer