It is that exciting time of the year again! As teams prepare for the season ahead, everything kicks off with one major step: retention. After carefully evaluating our squad and performances from last season, we’re thrilled to announce our 14 retained players ahead of the WPL Auction: Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Laura Wolvaardt, Harleen Deol, Dayalan Hemalatha, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Mannat Kashyap, Meghna Singh, Phoebe Litchfield, Priya Mishra, Sayali Satghare, Shabnam Shakil and Tanuja Kanwer. These players have demonstrated their skill, commitment, and resilience, shining bright for us in Season 2. With their experience and talent, they’ll play a key role in taking our team forward as we approach Season 3. Here’s a look at why each player was retained and what they bring to the team:
Beth Mooney
Beth Mooney, our dynamic left-handed batter from Australia, has been one of the most reliable players for us and her national team. Known for her consistent performances, Beth has had a strong international career. In the recent Women’s T20 World Cup, she scored 144 runs, averaging 36.00. In ODIs, Beth has racked up 2380 runs at an impressive average of 51.73, while her T20I runs stand at 3003, with an average of 39.50. For us in WPL 2024, Beth was a standout performer, ending as our top run-scorer with 285 runs at an excellent average of 47.50.
Ashleigh Gardner
Ashleigh Gardner is one of the world’s best all-rounders, and her impact on the game has been immense. Known for her power-hitting and effective bowling, Ashleigh has excelled on the global stage. She played a crucial role in Australia’s T20 World Cup win in 2020 and was named the Player of the Tournament in the 2023 T20 World Cup, taking 10 wickets and scoring 110 runs. We were thrilled to bring Ashleigh on board in the first WPL season for 3.2 crores, and she’s repaid that investment by delivering consistently. In 2023, she scored 204 runs in 8 games and took 8 wickets, followed by 120 runs and 7 wickets in the 2024 season.
Harleen Deol
Harleen Deol is a bright and emerging talent in Indian cricket, and we believe she has a fantastic future ahead. Known for her athleticism, Harleen adds immense value with her fielding and her ability to take stunning catches. Unfortunately, she was ruled out midway through WPL Season 2, but she showcased her potential in Season 1, scoring 202 runs, with a top score of 67.
Laura Wolvaardt
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt has been one of the fastest-rising stars in women’s cricket. Leading South Africa to the T20 World Cup final, Laura displayed her batting strength by ending as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 224 runs. She first joined us as a replacement for Beth Mooney in WPL 2023 and made an immediate impact by scoring 143 runs in just 4 matches. In the 2024 season, she scored 167 runs in 6 games, consistently delivering strong performances.
Dayalan Hemalatha
Dayalan Hemalatha has been a valuable player for us in her two seasons. In Season 1, she scored 151 runs in 8 games with an average of 30.20, followed by 115 runs in Season 2. Her highest score of 74 came in an impressive performance against Mumbai Indians.
Phoebe Litchfield
Our young left-hander, Phoebe Litchfield, has shown great promise since her debut. In Season 1, she scored 108 runs in 8 games, joining the tournament after a fantastic series against India. We’re excited to see her at her best this upcoming season.
Bharti Fulmali
Bharti Fulmali joined us as a replacement in Season 2 and made a strong impact. She scored 42 runs off 36 balls in our final game, helping us post a solid score. Her performance made retaining her an easy choice.
Kashvee Gautam
Kashvee Gautam is an emerging pace bowler with huge potential. Though she missed Season 2 due to injury, she is set to make a comeback in Season 3. Known for her incredible achievement of taking all 10 wickets in an innings, we’re looking forward to her bowling for us again.
Mannat Kashyap
Our young left-arm spinner, Mannat Kashyap, played 5 games in Season 2 and picked up 1 wicket. Her potential was clear, and we’re eager to see her shine. She also made her India debut against Australia just before Season 2.
Meghna Singh
Meghna Singh was a reliable performer for us with the ball in Season 2. She played 8 games, taking 5 wickets, including a 4-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals, and often gave us good starts.
Priya Mishra
Priya Mishra has made quick strides in recent times. Though she was picked for WPL 2024, she didn’t get a game. However, she made her ODI debut, taking 3 wickets in 2 games against New Zealand. Her skills will be key for us in Season 3.
Shabnam Shakil
At just 17, Shabnam Shakil impressed everyone in Season 2. She played 4 games and took 4 wickets, including a match-winning 3-for-11 against UP Warriorz. We look forward to her continuing this form.
Tanuja Kanwer
Tanuja Kanwer played a crucial role with her spin in Season 2, taking wickets at important moments and chipping in with runs. She was our highest wicket-taker with 10 wickets, proving her value to the team.
Sayali Satghare
Sayali Satghare is a promising all-rounder who has performed well for India A. She played one game in Season 2, scoring an unbeaten 7, and brings strong all-round skills from her domestic experience with Mumbai.
With these players as the core of our squad, we are looking forward to building a strong team in the auction that will help us chase victory in Season 3. Here’s to an exciting WPL season ahead!
