Saturday, March 4th, marks the highly awaited launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2023), with Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians clashing in a power-packed match. Assessing all five teams’ performance after the auction of WPL 2023, it looks as if the title race is wide open, but a few contenders possess the ability to take the crown. Here, we look at the top contenders for this season’s championship trophy.
#5 Gujarat Titans
The Gujarat Giants (GG) surprised many by appointing the unassuming Beth Mooney as their captain for the WPL 2023 auction. Despite this bold move, the team’s outlook was bleak ahead of the auction. The Giants adopted a strange roster at the auction, shelling out a lot of money for overseas players while favoring domestic players from Railways Women. This left only a few international stars for Team India, significantly weakening their batting and bowling lineups.
#4 Mumbai Indians
Although the Mumbai Indians have four quality international all-rounders in Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amelia Kerr, and Chloe Tryon, as well as two Indian players in Harmanpreet Kaur and Pooja Vastrakar, they may not necessarily be a strong contender for the summit clash. This is partly because their heavy spending on Yastika Bhatia left them without enough funds to adequately bolster their bowling department, leaving them with many all-rounders but perhaps lacking the penetration needed to make their mark truly.
#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB possesses a strong squad, boasting two dependable fast bowlers, Megan Schutt, and Renuka Singh. Despite some inexperience in their domestic bowling section, their scouts gave the team a compelling selection at the auction. Their batting power is undeniable, and if they can strategize effectively, Bangalore has the potential to compete for the WPL 2023 title, as do the other two upcoming teams.
#2 UP Warriorz
UPW has assembled a formidable batting line-up featuring Tahlia McGrath, Kiran Navgire, Grace Harris, and Shweta Sehrawat. The spin department consists of Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Sophie Ecclestone, and Deepti, while Shabnim Ismail and Anjali Sarvani ably handle the pace bowling. Devika Vaidya’s signing completes this well-rounded side, giving the Warriorz a full-fledged squad.
#1 Delhi Capitals
The DC Capitals boast arguably the finest lineup of all five franchises. They are imposing regarding their Indian contingent: Shefali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, and Shikha Pandey. Even more impressive is their overseas player pool, featuring Alice Capsey, Laura Harris, Marizanne Kapp, and Lanning. Plus, they have the advantage of playing an additional overseas player in Tara Norris, an Associate cricketer.
