WPL 2023 | X-Factors Of Each Team For The Inaugural Season
Mandhana and Harmanpreet in 2022 (Source: Twitter)
The troops are formed, swords are out, as the inaugural edition of Women’s Premier League beckons.
With just a week gap between the looming tournament and the recently-concluded T20 World Cup in South Africa, players will presumably carry their confidence (or lack of) from the international event to the cash-rich league.
On the basis of recent form and star attractions, here we identify players who might become the X-Factor of each side this WPL 2023 season.
Smriti Mandhana (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Mandhana in full flow vs Ireland (BCCI)
Team India veteran Smriti Mandhana, to no one’s surprise, triggered a bidding war at the WPL 2023 auction in February. The batting star was acquired by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and was appointed as their captain almost instantly after the event.
Despite missing the earlier segment of this year’s T20 World Cup, Mandhana stacked up runs in heap and ended up among the top six batters of the tournament. She continues to remain one of the highest ranked T20I world batters in women’s cricket.
In a team which already features a legion of T20 heavyweights like Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, and Heather Knight; Mandhana might well become that X-Factor RCB needs to win their first IPL title (across both genders).
Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat Giants)
Gardner celebrates a wicket in T20 WC 2023 final (Twitter)
ICC’s number one ranked T20I all-rounder, 2022 Commonwealth Games winner and a three-time T20 World Champion, Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner has seen and conquered it all. It is of little wonder why she was one of the most sought-after players at the auction, before ultimately landing a spot at Gujarat Giants, and as their captain no less.
Gardner is also well-accustomed with the Indian conditions, having featured in Australia’s 4-1 triumph over the hosts last December with a ‘Player of the Series’ performance.
As far as recent form is concerned, the cricketer blazed away her opponents throughout the 2023 T20 World Cup, having netted 110 runs, 10 wickets, a ‘Player of the Tournament’ memorabilia and her third successive World T20 silverware.
Deepti Sharma (UP Warriorz)
Deepti Sharma in action against Pak (Twitter)
India’s Deepti Sharma does not feature within ICC’s top five ranked bowlers and all-rounders for nothing. The cricketer’s contribution has been integral to her team’s success in the last few years, as it paved the way for the ‘Women in Blue’ to reach the knockouts in three successive global tournaments, including last week’s T20 World Cup.
Sharma was the fourth costliest commodity of the WPL 2023 auction, having roped in by the UP Warriorz. She is set to serve her franchise as the second-in-command to skipper Alyssa Healy.
Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai Indians)
Harmanpreet Kaur plays a shot in T20 WC 2023 (Twitter)
With men’s captain Rohit Sharma helming the Mumbai Indians’ IPL side, the franchise owners seemed keen to acquire Harmanpreet Kaur among their women’s ranks. Unsurprisingly, the women’s legend was instantly appointed as their WPL skipper, in a team already featuring the likes of T20 stars Nat Sciver, Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews.
Leading India women’s all-time run-scoring charts in T20Is, and guiding her side to multiple global T20 finals, Kaur brings enough experience to the table to become Mumbai Indians’ X-Factor at the inaugural WPL season.
Shafali Verma (Delhi Capitals)
Verma flicks against Ireland (Twitter)
Shafali Verma bats with a relentless quest for boundary hitting, as has been a case with her since her international debut as a 15-year-old. The cricketer’s uncomplicated approach is all about taking advantage of the powerplay field to its fullest, much like a certain batting barbarian named Virender Sehwag.
Less than two months before the commencement of WPL 2023, Verma proved her mettle as a leader. She commanded a young Indian brigade to victory at the first-ever Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, upstaging tournament favourites England in the final.
Verma’s fearless approach to the game eventually landed her a contract with Delhi Capitals, the same franchise where Sehwag made his IPL debut 15 years ago.
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