Last month, as many as 60 players were retained by all five franchises, including 21 overseas, while 29 were released.
The players’ auction for the second edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set to take place in Mumbai on December 9. Last month, as many as 60 players were retained by all five franchises, including 21 overseas, while 29 were released.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, an additional purse of INR 1.5 crore will be available to each of the five teams. The amount obtained after the releases of the players and the balance left from the last auction will be added to the fresh purse of INR 1.5 crore.
Follow all the action from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 including the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 results, and ICC Cricket World Cup points table. Players are vying to top the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.
Available purse for each franchise and slots to fill
Gujarat Giants released the most number of players – 11 – among all five franchises, retaining 8 cricketers. They will have the highest purse of INR 5.95 crore with ten slots – including three overseas – available to fill.
Delhi Capitals, the runner-up of the last season, retained most of its players and released only three. They will have a purse amount of INR 2.25 crore for the auction.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians retained 13 players and let go of 4 cricketers. They have the smallest purse among the five franchises, INR 2.1 crore, to fill five slots including one overseas.
UP Warriroz, retained 13 and released 4 players from the squad. They have INR 4 to fill up five slots including one overseas. They are followed by Royal Challengers, who finished fourth, with INR 3.35 crore (approx. US $402,509) to fill seven slots including three overseas.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, who finished 4th last season, released 7 players and retained 11. They have INR 3.35 crore to fill seven slots including three overseas.
Takeaways from last auction
As many as seven players cracked whopping deals, as high as INR 2 crore, in what was the first-ever WPL players’ auction. Three players managed to breach the INR 3-crore mark: Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive buy, bagging an RCB contract worth INR 3.4 crore while Ashleigh Gardner (INR 3.2 crore) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (INR 3.2 crore) followed next on the list of costliest buys.
WPL 2022 – a successful beginning
The inaugural edition, which comprised 22 matches, of the tournament hogged enough limelight, turning out to be an instant hit. It was organized across three venues in Mumbai, and each of them witnessed decent footfall.
The schedule of the forthcoming season is yet to be announced. It will be interesting to see if the BCCI follows the home-and-away format for the second edition or confined to a single city like the previous edition.
