The 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) witnessed some majestic performances from Indian players. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who lifted the coveted trophy under Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy, got exceptional efforts from Indian players along with the Australia veteran Ellyse Perry. Skipper Madhana also won numerous hearts as she led from the front to guide her team to the scintillating victory.
For young Indian players, the T20 extravaganza is a boon as it allows them to display their potential and become renowned names in the cricketing circle. Taking advantage of the platform, a few young names proved their mettle, this year, as well. Following the second WPL season, it’s essential to talk about the Indian players who grabbed a lot of eyeballs for their magnificent performances.
Here are the Indian players who shone in the 2024 WPL
1. Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana fulfilled her responsibility as captain and opening batter. After the disappointing maiden WPL season, her job was to uplift the team’s performance. In the new season, she looked confident as a skipper. Despite ups and downs in the league stage, she didn’t lose faith and took the team to the playoffs.
In the knockout stage, RCB looked extremely confident under her as she succeeded in extracting impactful results from her players. As a batter, the southpaw scored 300 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 133.92 with two fifties and ended up as the fourth-leading run-getter in the tournament.
2. Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma was seen in excellent touch in the 2024 WPL. Serving the Delhi Capitals (DC) as an opener, she played some sensational knocks for the side, alongside her skipper Meg Lanning. Appearing in nine matches, she hit 309 runs at an impressive strike rate of 156.85 and became the third-highest run-scorer in the competition.
In the final against RCB at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, she displayed a fighting spirit with her 44-run knock that came in just 27 deliveries. Following her departure, DC’s innings completely collapsed and got bundled out on a mere 113.
3. Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues couldn’t live up to the expectations in the final against RCB but her performance in the league round built Delhi’s road to the final. In the crucial matches, she stood tall against bowlers and guided her team to some amazing victories. Against Challengers in the league round, she played a 58-run knockoff just 36 deliveries to help her side hammer Mandhana and Co. by one run.
She carried her form in the next game against the Gujarat Giants (GG). This time, Capitals registered a convincing seven-wicket win and she chipped in with an unbeaten 38 off 28. Her batting efforts played a crucial role in helping Delhi top the points table and qualify for the final.
4. Harmanpreet Kaur
Mumbai Indians (MI) failed to defend the title with a five-run loss against RCB in the Eliminator but their skipper Harmanpreet Kaur exhibited her batting brilliance again in the league. The veteran played seven matches and scored 268 runs at a fine strike rate of 141.05. With these numbers, she ended up as the most successful batter for her side in the season.
Her 55-run knock off 34 balls against DC in the opening contest went into vain but she showed nerves of steel again in the next game. Riding on her unbeaten 46 off 41 against GG in Bengaluru, MI chased down a target of 129. Against Gujarat in Delhi, she also registered her best WPL knock (unbeaten 95 off 48) and guided MI to a seven-wicket win. Harmanpreet made Mumbai the first team to qualify for the 2024 WPL playoffs.
5. Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh’s job was to bolster RCB with her wicket-keeping and batting and she played her part efficiently. The 20-year-old played 10 matches in the competition and performed 13 dismissals (10 stumpings and three catches) as a stumper. As a batter, she was marvellous in the middle order.
The right-handed batter appeared in 10 games and scored 257 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 141.98. Playing their maiden 2024 WPL contest, Challengers handed GG a two-run win and Ghosh was the highest run-scorer in the game with her 62-run innings off just 37 balls. Her eye-grabbing innings came against DC in a losing cause. In Bangalore’s one-run loss, the youngster played a 51-run innings off just 29 deliveries and took the game close for her team.
6. Deepti Sharma
UP Warriorz (UPW) couldn’t qualify for the playoffs but their vital stalwart Deepti Sharma did her job superbly. She played eight contests in the competition and racked up 295 runs and 10 wickets. Along with Sophie Ecclestone, the 26-year-old delivered effective bowling numbers to UPW.
Against DC at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, UPW won the game by just one run and Deepti won several hearts with her spunky all-round performance. Batting first, the Warriors posted 138 runs on the board with Deepti’s fine knock of 59 off 48. Defending the low total, UP saw an exceptional piece of bowling from Deepti. In her four-over spell, she took four wickets and splurged only 19 runs. Deepti’s courageous all-round display also got her the Player of the Match award.
7. Asha Shobhana
Asha Shobhana can be called an unsung hero in RCB’s maiden title win. She got 12 wickets in 10 games at an economy of 7.11 and ended up as the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition. RCB kicked off their campaign with a scintillating two-run win against UPW and Shobhana became the first Indian player to grab a fifer in WPL.
In the final against the Capitals, she delivered an economical and wicket-taking spell to her team. Bowling a three-over spell, she got the crucial scalps of Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen to push DC under pressure.
8. Shreyanka Patil
Shreyanka Patil played a crucial role in Bangalore’s maiden triumph. The right-arm off-break bowler grabbed 13 wickets in eight matches at an economy of 7.30 and became the recipient of the Purple Cap. In the league round, she wreaked havoc on DC in a losing cause. On Delhi’s batting heaven, she picked up a four-wicket haul, giving away only 26 runs in her four-over spell.
In the final, she showcased her fierce side against Delhi again. This time, the 21-year-old gave away only 12 runs in 3.3 overs and picked up another four-wicket haul. On the massive occasion, she recorded her best bowling figures.
9. Shikha Pandey
Shikha Pandey’s job was to strengthen DC’s pace attack and she delivered decent numbers to the side. She played the entire season for Delhi and got nine wickets in nine games at an economy of 7.17.
In the final against Challengers, the pacer got rid of dangerous Sophie Devine early but her breakthrough couldn’t avoid a defeat. Before the knockout contest, Pandey delivered wicket-taking spells to the side consistently.
10. Arundhati Reddy
Arundhati Reddy played nine games for DC and picked up eight wickets at an economy of 7.62. In the opening contest, Delhi failed to defend to 172 but Reddy bowled an economical spell that took the game close. Bowling four overs, she dismissed Natalie Sciver-Brunt and Yastika Bhatia and leaked only 27 runs.
Reddy’s bowling numbers show that she posed a tough competition against batters. Like her teammate Marizanne Kapp, she didn’t clinch big numbers in matches but her small contributions proved valuable for Delhi and eased her colleagues’ jobs.
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