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Harmanpreet, Shafali, Richa Snubbed From WBBL 2024; Jemimah, 4 Other Indians Join Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana gets picked as Harmanpreet Kaur overlooked in WBBL draft (X)Smriti Mandhana gets picked as Harmanpreet Kaur overlooked in WBBL draft (X)

The much-anticipated Big Bash Draft 2024, held in Melbourne on Sunday (September 1), marked the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) season 10.

As the eight teams—Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, and Sydney Thunder—eagerly assembled their squads, Indian cricketers once again grabbed the limelight. However, not all familiar faces made the cut this year.

Six Indian cricketers find teams in WBBL 2024

Six Indian players were among the big names picked in the first three rounds, demonstrating the rising stock of Indian talent in the global arena.

Smriti Mandhana, already pre-signed by Adelaide Strikers, set the stage for a draft where Indian players were hot property.

Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues were among the first-round picks, with the former going to Melbourne Stars as the fourth pick of the day, while the latter was snapped up by Brisbane Heat as the seventh player in the opening round.

Seasoned campaigner, Shikha Pandey was picked up by Brisbane Heat in the second round, bringing a wealth of experience to the table. 

The third round saw Hemalatha Dayalan becoming the first pick, joining Perth Scorchers, while Melbourne Stars further bolstered their squad with the signing of wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia.


Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, and Richa Ghosh find no takers

However, in a surprising turn of events, some of India's biggest names did not find a place in this year's WBBL. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, known for her explosive batting and leadership, along with the dynamic duo of Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh, were left without teams.

This unexpected outcome has raised eyebrows and sparked conversations, as these players have been key figures in India Women’s cricket and are regulars in franchise leagues worldwide.

Meanwhile, as the WBBL 2024 season kicks off on October 27, with the opening match between Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat, the tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle.

Spanning 43 games and culminating in the grand finale on December 1, all eyes will be on the Indian stars who made the cut.