WPL Auction 2023: The inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League is slated to be played between March 4-26 this year. As per WPL 2023 schedule, the first match will be played between Team Mumbai and Team Ahmedabad on March 4 with the final match on March 26. A total of five franchises will be participating in the first edition. Ahead of the first edition, we take a look at the five overseas players who might earn big bucks in the auction. Follow WPL 2023 Auction LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
WPL Auction 2023: From Ellyse Perry to Hayley Matthews, 5 TOP OVERSEAS players to go for BIG BUCK in Women Premier League Auction, Check OUT
WPL Auction 2023 LIVE: BCCI announces Women’s IPL Auction on February 13, Harmanpreet Kaur, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Ecclestone headline 409-player…
Chamari Athapaththu
Batting all-rounder Athapaththu has more than 100 T20I games under her belt and will be one of the frontline players in the WPL. Coming from the neighbouring country, Sri Lanka, the left-handed batter will not find it too hard to play her shots on the Indian wickets.
Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry is widely regarded as one of the most dominant players with both bat and ball in the shortest format. Her form has dipped a bit in the last couple of years but the 32-year-old will attract big attention from the franchises as she brought a lot of experience to the table. The Australian all-rounder can also be given be leadership role considering her experience in the international and domestic arena.
Heather Knight
England captain Knight has not been in the best form recently, but one can never write her off. The middle-order batter has 1,474 T20I runs, including a hundred and four fifties. Knight was at her best in 2020 when she smashed 486 runs in 13 games at an average of 40.50 and strike rate of 135.75.
West Indies skipper Matthews is one of the utility players in the mix. The opening batter has the power to send world-class bowlers on a leather hunt, and with her off-spin bowling, she knows how to keep the opposing batters on a tight leash. Matthews has been a star of Caribbean T20 cricket. At 18, she led West Indies to the T20 World Cup title by scoring 66 off 45 balls in the final against Australia.
WPL Auction 2023: From Ellyse Perry to Hayley Matthews, 5 TOP OVERSEAS players to go for BIG BUCK in Women Premier League Auction, Check OUT
Suzie Bates
New Zealand veteran Bates has the most runs in T20I cricket among the women. The 35-year-old batter, who made her debut in 2007, has 3,683 runs under her belt, including a century and 23 fifties. Bates averages 35.00 in Asia, which augurs well for the franchise that eventually buys her services. She was in splendid form at the Women’s Super Smash in Dunedin last month, scoring a 56-ball 75 and 59-ball 76.
Sophie Ecclestone
Top-ranked T20I bowler Ecclestone is a seasoned campaigner with an economy of 5.90. The slow left-arm orthodox spinner finished with four wickets in three games in the Women’s T20 Challenge last year and can operate at full throttle on the spin-friendly Indian pitches. A decent striker of the ball, Ecclestone — who was also the runners-up with Sydney Sixers at the Big Bash League — can contribute in the lower order.