Category: WPL

by Abhishek Shukla

Adani’s Gujarat Giants Unveil Jersey, Kick Start Preparation for Season 2 of WPL

Bengaluru, 16th February, 2024: Ahead of the monumental second season the WPL, which tees off in Bengaluru, the Adani Sportsline owned Gujarat Giants began their preparations, by unveiling their jersey for the tournament. 
The Gujarat Giants’ Head Coach Michael Klinger and Mentor Mithali Raj were present at the ceremony as they presented the new jersey to the squad ahead of their training in the evening. The Giants, will be captained by Australian run-machine Beth Mooney, with Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana as the vice-captain. 

In preparation for this season’s WPL, the team in orange kick started their training with great gusto in the Garden City of Bengaluru, and are putting in the hard yards as they approach their first game. The Gujarat Giants will open its campaign at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians on 25 February. 

While Michael Klinger is the Head Coach and Mithali Raj is the Mentor and Advisor, one of India’s most renowned spinners Nooshin Al Khadeer is the Bowling Coach for the team this season. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Head Coach Michael Klinger said, “This is a new season in the WPL and we are really excited about it. But we must work very hard to be able to put in a good show for our fans. We have a few plans for our players, and the roles for everyone are also well defined, and we hope the players are the best version of themselves every day. There is a lot to look forward to here, and the team is gung-ho about the upcoming season, and we are quietly confident about doing well once things kick off.” 

“The WPL is a great platform for women’s cricket, and the Adani Sportsline team have been tremendous in terms of supporting the team with whatever is needed as we build up to our opening game. We have a well-balanced squad with a lot of youth and plenty of experience in the senior players, and together, we are always looking to put our best foot forward. This is an important season for the Gujarat Giants, and I want all our players to give it their very best, in every training session and in every game of course, and ask all the questions they need to, because that’s the best way to make sure the preparation is on-point,” said Mithali Raj, Mentor and Advisor, Gujarat Giants.

by Abhishek Shukla

UP Warriorz and Sisters in Sweat Join Hands to Help Inspire Women to Take Up Sport

Bengaluru, 14 February, 2024: The Women’s Premier League, one of the most watched cricket tournaments in the world, is going to kick off its second season very soon, and ahead of that, the UP Warriorz, who are owned by Capri Sports, are collaborating with Sisters in Sweat, with a focus towards opening more doors in sport for women in Bengaluru and New Delhi, and eventually the rest of India.
This partnership is built on a mutual mission by UP Warriorz and Sisters in Sweat to enhance the presence and participation of women in cricket. The collaboration aims to create accessible opportunities for women to engage with the sport, regardless of their experience level. Players from the UP Warriorz’s squad for WPL Season 2 will make their presence felt at games organised by this partnership, with Day 1 scheduled to be on 17th February in Bengaluru.
“We’re thrilled about our partnership with Sisters in Sweat. The initiative aligns perfectly with our values at UP Warriorz, where we strive to excel in the WPL and also to be game changers by fostering a vibrant community for women in sports. We’re excited about the potential of our joint efforts,” said Jinisha Sharma, Director – Capri Sports, UP Warriorz.
Swetha Subbiah, Co-founder and Performance Coach, Sisters in Sweat, stated,, “Partnering with UP Warriorz is a pivotal moment for us. Cricket has the power to bring people together and inspire action. We’re looking forward to seeing the positive effects of our work together in communities and beyond.”
UP Warriorz and Sisters in Sweat encourages everyone to support this cause. Whether you’re an experienced player, a newcomer, or a fan of women’s sports, you’re invited to take advantage of this opportunity to experience cricket and the multitude of benefits the sport brings with it.
The UP Warriorz, who finished third in the WPL’s inaugural season in 2023, will open their campaign this year against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on 24 February, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Keep an eye out for upcoming events and ways to get involved. For more information visit – https://sistersinsweat.in/

by Abhishek Shukla

Beth Mooney back as captain of Adani’s Gujarat Giants, Sneh Rana to be her deputy

Bengaluru, 14 February, 2024: With the second season of WPL around the corner, the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants has announced that Australian batter Beth Mooney will captain the team and Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana will be her deputy. They will be part of the leadership group with head coach Michael Klinger, mentor and advisor Mithali Raj, and assistant coach Nooshin Al Khadeer.

Mooney was appointed captain of Gujarat Giants in the inaugural season of WPL. However, she had to leave the tournament after the first game due to an injury.

Mooney is one of the best batters in international T20 cricket. In addition to being part of the team that won the T20 World Cup in 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023, she was also in the squad that won the 2022 ODI World Cup and Gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Despite being in the 2014 T20 World Cup-winning squad, she did not make her international debut for Australia till January 2016. In December 2017, she won both the inaugural ICC T20I Player of the Year and Emerging Player of the Year awards. She was named Wisden’s Leading Woman Cricketer in the World in 2021 and 2022. Her 24 half-centuries is the second-most by a batter in T20I cricket; she was also the fastest women’s cricketer to reach 2,000 runs in the shortest format of the game.

Rana, an off-break bowler and a right-handed batter, is one of India’s top cricketers. She made her ODI and T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2014, and in Tests against England in 2021. In season 1 of the WPL, she was named the skipper of Gujarat Giants following Mooney’s injury, and bagged 6 wickets in 7 innings. She was part of the team that won Silver for India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“I am delighted to be back with Gujarat Giants and grateful for the team’s trust in me. We have a fantastic squad, and I am confident we will put up a good show. It is good WPL will be played in Bengaluru and New Delhi, which are new to the tournament,” said Mooney.

“The second season of WPL will be another festival of cricket. That Beth is back as skipper is fantastic news, and I will do everything I can to support her. The squad is well-balanced, and we are in a good place as a team,” said Rana. 

“Mooney and Rana are stalwarts, and we at Adani Sportsline are delighted to have them leading the team. WPL is an important part of cricketing history, and we are proud to be associated with it. We have some of the best minds in the game working towards a common goal of glory, and I am sure that will be reflected on the field,” said Sanjay Adesara, CBO, Adani Sportsline. 

Gujarat Giants will open its campaign at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians on 25 February.

by Abhishek Shukla

Michael Klinger joins Adani’s Gujarat Giants as head coach ahead of WPL 2024

Bengaluru, 6 February 2024: Ahead of Season 2 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), former Australia cricketer Michael Klinger has been appointed as the Head Coach for the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants. The second season of the WPL will be played in Bangalore and New Delhi, with the tournament starting on 23 February at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He joins the squad with legendary former Indian captain Mithali Raj, who is the Mentor and Advisor of the team, and Nooshin Al Khadeer, who has been the Bowling Coach since Season 1.  

Klinger most recently served as an assistant coach for Sydney Thunder, a team that finished fourth in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).  He also worked with Phoebe Litchfield, the new recruit to the Thunder, having served as the head coach of Melbourne Renegades Men’s team from 2019 to 2021.

Klinger attained legendary status in the Men’s BBL as a player. He retired in 2019 and left as the league’s highest ever run scorer. His experience in various aspects of the game will prove beneficial for the Gujarat Giants team. 

Speaking about his recent appointment as head coach, Michael Klinger said, “The Gujarat Giants have a chance to do something special in the Season 2 of the Women’s Premier League. I am eagerly looking forward to working with cricketing legend in Mithali Raj, who has played a transformative role in women’s cricket in India. Together with the Adani Sportsline family, Mithali Raj, and the rest of the team, I hope to take the team to ultimate glory.”

The appointment of Klinger was also lauded by Mithali Raj, Team Mentor and Advisor, “Working with Michael will help bring out the best in the Gujarat Giants players.  . His expertise with the bat is also well-known and will surely benefit some of the younger members of our team. We look forward to having Klinger in the dressing room. We are sure of attaining success with him as head coach.”

Sanjay Adesara, CBO, Adani Sportsline, said, “Michael Klinger is a very worthy addition to the Gujarat Giants and Adani Sportsline family. He has shown great pedigree in the BBL as both coach and player. This will surely help our team in the upcoming season of the WPL as well as in the future. He will work closely with Mithali Raj as the two guide our team to greater heights.”

Meanwhile, the Giants will take the field against the Mumbai Indians in their first match of the campaign on February 25, 2024.
 
About Adani Sportsline
Adani Sportsline is the sports arm of the diversified Adani Group, which has a presence in ports, logistics, energy, utility, infrastructure, electric power generation and transmission, mining, airport operations, natural gas, and food processing.
 
Formed in 2019, Adani Sportsline has an overarching philosophy to inculcate a culture of sports at the grassroots level and create globally competitive opportunities for future champions in India. In line with the group’s vision of nation-building, the company aims to build a world-class ecosystem that nurtures sporting talent, accelerates the sports economy, and plays the role of an enabler in India’s journey to become a leading sporting nation.

by Abhishek Shukla

WPL 2024 Auction: Kashvee Gautam Tops Player Auction with Record ₹2 Crore Bid

In today’s highly anticipated Tata WPL 2024 Player Auction, the cricketing world witnessed an intense bidding war, with teams vying for top talent to bolster their lineups for the upcoming Women’s Premier League season.

The auction was marked by some record-breaking bids, with Kashvee Gautam emerging as the most expensive player of the session, securing a whopping ₹2,00,00,000 deal. This all-rounder’s exceptional skills have significantly impacted the Gujarat Giants, who have invested heavily in her ability to change games with bat and ball.

The Delhi Capitals showed strategic diversity in their choices, acquiring all-rounder Annabel Sutherland and wicketkeeper Aparna Mondal, among others, signaling a strong all-round development. Sutherland, an Australian cricketer known for her aggressive playing style and versatility, was bought for an impressive ₹2,00,00,000, matching the day’s highest bid.

The Mumbai Indians also made notable acquisitions, including South African bowler Shabnim Ismail and all-rounder Sujata S, reflecting their focus on a balanced team with strong bowling options.

Royal Challengers Bangalore seemed to have a clear strategy, investing ₹90,00,000 in Erin Blath, a move that suggests a focus on building a solid batting lineup for the challenges ahead.

UP Warriorz appeared to have a balanced approach towards their picks, adding both batters and all-rounders to their squad, including Vrinda Dinesh and Salma Tiholari, ensuring depth in both departments.

Overall, the auction saw a total of 30 players sold, with 9 overseas players joining the fray. This diversity signifies the global appeal of the league and the growing interest in women’s cricket worldwide.

The total amount spent in today’s auction reached ₹12,75,00,000, indicating the league’s financial robustness and the value placed on acquiring top-tier talent. This year’s auction has undoubtedly set the stage for an exciting Women’s Premier League season, with teams looking more competitive than ever. Fans can look forward to a tournament filled with high-class cricket and emerging talents showcasing their prowess on the field.

Delhi Capitals players from the Tata WPL 2024 Player Auction:

Player NameCountryPositionTeam in WPLAmount (₹)
Annabel Sutherland ✈AustraliaAll-RounderDelhi Capitals2,00,00,000
Aparna MondalIndiaWicket-KeeperDelhi Capitals10,00,000
Ashwani KumariIndiaAll-RounderDelhi Capitals10,00,000

Gujarat Giants players from the Tata WPL 2024 Player Auction:

Player NameCountryPositionTeam in WPLAmount (₹)
Kashvee GautamIndiaAll-RounderGujarat Giants2,00,00,000
Phoebe Litchfield ✈AustraliaBatterGujarat Giants1,00,00,000
Meghna SinghIndiaAll-RounderGujarat Giants30,00,000
Lauren Cheatle ✈AustraliaBowlerGujarat Giants30,00,000
Veda KrishnamurthyIndiaBatterGujarat Giants30,00,000
Priya MishraIndiaBowlerGujarat Giants20,00,000
Trisha PoojithaIndiaBatterGujarat Giants10,00,000
Kathryn Bryce ✈ScotlandAll-RounderGujarat Giants10,00,000
Mannat KashyapIndiaAll-RounderGujarat Giants10,00,000
Tarannum PathanIndiaAll-RounderGujarat Giants10,00,000

Mumbai Indians players from the Tata WPL 2024 Player Auction:

Player NameCountryPositionTeam in WPLAmount (₹)
Shabnim Ismail ✈South AfricaBowlerMumbai Indians1,20,00,000
Sajana SIndiaAll-RounderMumbai Indians15,00,000
Amandeep KaurIndiaAll-RounderMumbai Indians10,00,000
Fatima JafferIndiaBowlerMumbai Indians10,00,000
Keerthana BalakrishnanIndiaAll-RounderMumbai Indians10,00,000

Royal Challengers Bangalore players from the Tata WPL 2024 Player Auction

Player NameCountryPositionTeam in WPLAmount (₹)
Ekta BishtIndiaBowlerRoyal Challengers Bangalore60,00,000
Georgia Wareham ✈AustraliaAll-RounderRoyal Challengers Bangalore40,00,000
Kate Cross ✈EnglandBowlerRoyal Challengers Bangalore30,00,000
Sabbineni MeghanaIndiaAll-RounderRoyal Challengers Bangalore30,00,000
Simran BahadurIndiaBowlerRoyal Challengers Bangalore30,00,000
Sophie Molineux ✈AustraliaAll-RounderRoyal Challengers Bangalore30,00,000
Shubha SatheeshIndiaAll-RounderRoyal Challengers Bangalore10,00,000

UP Warriorz players from the Tata WPL 2024 Player Auction:

Player NameCountryPositionTeam in WPLAmount (₹)
Vrinda DineshIndiaBatterUP Warriorz1,30,00,000
Dani Wyatt ✈EnglandBatterUP Warriorz30,00,000
Gouher SultanaIndiaBowlerUP Warriorz30,00,000
Poonam KhemnarIndiaAll-RounderUP Warriorz10,00,000
Saima ThakorIndiaAll-RounderUP Warriorz10,00,000

by Abhishek Shukla

WPL 2024 Auction: Delhi Capitals strengthen squad with exciting additions

Mumbai, 09 December 2023: The JSW-GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals made exciting additions to strengthen their squad at the TATA WPL 2024 Auction in Mumbai on Saturday. With three slots to fill, the runners-up of the inaugural edition bagged the Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland (INR 2 crore), along with the Indian uncapped duo of Aparna Mondal (INR 10 lakh) and Ashwani Kumari (INR 10 lakh).
 
The franchise acquired the services of Annabel Sutherland for INR 2 crore, which was the joint biggest buy of the WPL 2024 Auction. The 22-year-old, who was part of Gujarat Giants in the inaugural WPL edition, picked up three wickets in four matches. She is coming off an impressive WBBL campaign, where she picked up as many as 23 wickets and scored 288 runs in 14 matches for the Melbourne Stars Women. She was part of Australia’s 2023 ICC T20 World Cup-winning squad and has thus far played 22 T20Is and picked up 10 wickets.
 
Sharing his thoughts on acquiring Sutherland, Delhi Capitals Head Coach Jonathan Batty stated, “She was our number one target all the way through.  We identified her multiple skill sets- she is an outstanding batter, one of the leading wicket-takers in the WBBL recently, and was the best all-rounder in the competition last year. She has got leadership qualities as well and is a gun fielder. We are very happy we have got her.”
 
Wicketkeeper-batter Aparna Mondal, who was part of Delhi Capitals’ squad last season, was reacquired for INR 10 lakh, while Ashwani Kumari became the last buy of the WPL 2024 auction, purchased at INR 10 lakh. The 26-year-old all-rounder from Jharkhand was part of Gujarat Giants in the previous season. She scored 153 runs at a strike rate of 120.47 in seven matches of the recently held Senior Women’s T20 Trophy. She also featured for East Zone at the Senior Women’s Inter Zonal T20 Trophy, scoring 103 runs in five matches, including a quickfire 52 off 25 balls.
 
Speaking about the exciting additions to the squad, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, said, “The staff wanted Sutherland, Aparna and Ashwani, that’s what we discussed at the auction, and we got them. The squad has been good since last year, so it’s an addition. Hopefully, we play well as we did last year.”
 
Ganguly further added, “We are a good side and it’s the continuity of players who have performed well. Our Indian players are really good, and some of them who were part of us last year have now gone up a step higher to be in the national team, so that’s also an additional advantage.”
 
Delhi Capitals full squad for WPL 2024
 
Overseas Players: Meg Lanning (C), Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp, Alice Capsey, Laura Harris and Annabel Sutherland
 
Indian Players: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Taniyaa Bhatia, Minnu Mani, Sneha Deepthi, Titas Sadhu, Aparna Mondal, Ashwani Kumari

by Abhishek Shukla

WPL Auction: Comfortable with our plans says head coach Luke Williams as RCB looks to secure strong squad

Mumbai, December 9, 2023: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will know exactly when and where to raise the paddle during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 Player Auction in Mumbai later today as head coach Luke Williams expressed confidence over team’s preparations and extensive planning for the crucial event.

Williams, one of world’s most successful coaches having won the titles of Women’s Big Bash League and Women’s Hundred Championship in the past, is excited for auction and aims to build a strong squad for the upcoming season.

“We’ve spent plenty of time getting organised and feel like we’ve gone through all the different combinations and possibilities. So excited to see what happens,” Williams commented ahead of the auction.

“I think there’d be countless, but we’ve probably got down to four or five different main possibilities of how we think it will work out. But again, auctions can be unpredictable, so we continue to throw left field ideas that might happen, but we’re really, really comfortable with our plans and looking forward to the auction,” he added.

With seven slots to fill and ₹3.35 crore in the purse, RCB will be looking to add more local and overseas talent in the auction.

“With five players in the Indian side from RCB the other night, it’s a really good nucleus of Indian players. We’ve got some really exciting overseas talent and are looking to add to our squad at the auction with both overseas and local talent. So I think we have a really strong squad looking forward to the season ahead,” Williams said as he prepares for his first auction.