WIPL 2023: Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj COMING OUT of RETIREMENT for Women IPL 2023? Star says ‘OPTIONS are OPEN’: Check DETAILS

WIPL 2023: With the Media Rights auction done and dusted for WIPL, many former cricketers are eyeing a comeback on the field. For the 2023 Women’s IPL, which is anticipated to begin in the first week of March, former India captain Mithali Raj and pacer Jhulan Goswami can come out of retirement. The names of the five participating teams in the inaugural WIPL will probably be announced in the final week of January ahead of the player auction. Follow InsideSport.IN for LIVE updates about Women’s Indian Premier League 2023

Women IPL Player Auction: All you want to know about WIPL Player Auction in February, Base Price, Full Players LIST, Auction Rules: Follow Women IPL 2023 LIVE (insidesport.in)

WIPL Media Rights: After IPL, Viacom18 also bags WIPL Media Rights, shells out Rs 951 Cr for 5 years: Follow LIVE Updates (insidesport.in)

WIPL 2023: Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj COMING OUT of RETIREMENT for Women IPL 2023? Star says ‘OPTIONS are OPEN’: Check DETAILS

The five-team competition is expected to be referred to as the Women’s T20 League. Those 5 teams will be formed through a player auction in February. The deadline for Indian players to register for the auction is at or before 5 pm IST on January 26.

And ahead of the auction, there are many reports that Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj can come out of retirement to play in the cash-rich league. It is yet to be revealed whether both veterans have registered their names in the auction list or not.

The tournament will undoubtedly gain more traction as a result of Mithali and Jhulan’s involvement; the veterans have long served as India’s representatives for women’s cricket.

The elegant right-hander retired in June of last year, but she left the Women’s IPL option open.

While Jhulan, who led India’s bowling for 20 years, had his final international appearance in the away series against England in 2022.

In a July 2022 interview on the ICC’s 100% Cricket podcast with former England player Isha Guha and former New Zealand off-spinner Frankie Mackay, Mithali made the first indication that she would come out of retirement for the WIPL.

“I’m keeping that option open. I’ve not yet decided. There are a few more months to go before the women’s IPL happens. It would be lovely to be part of the first edition of the women’s IPL,” Mithali had said.

The 40-year-old has played for the nation in 89 T20Is, scoring 2,364 runs at a respectable average of 37.52. She last participated in a T20I match for India against England at home in 2019. Before putting her boots away in June 2022, Mithali played in more ODI and Test matches.

Jhulan Goswami in WIPL?

When asked about her involvement in the WIPL at the time of retirement, Jhulan chose to focus on the Indian cricket team instead. But she didn’t deny the possibility to play in the WIPL.

“As of now, I haven’t decided because so far, the Women’s IPL has not been officially announced. We are hopeful that it might come in the coming season. Let’s wait for the official announcement and then I will decide. At this moment, I am ending my career in international cricket. I have enjoyed every time,” Jhulan had said.

Goswami finished her international career with 44 wickets in 12 Tests, 255 wickets in 204 ODIs, and 56 wickets in 68 T20Is.