The tournament of Women Big Bash League takes place every year and it’s time for it again this year soon and cricket lovers eagerly waiting for this event. The Women’s Big Bash League or the WBBL for short has served as the flagship T20 competition for Australian women domestic players, and with its creation it has truly been a blessing to the women’s cricketing world giving them the recognition and platform they deserve. The WBBL draft 2024-25 has been held in the late Sunday, and all eight franchises were very involved in the drafts which resulted to some interesting changes and possibilities for the upcoming season.
Major Developments in the WBBL Draft 2024-25
Arguably one of the biggest shocks of this year’s draft was the exclusion of Indian women cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur from the list of successful bidding. Kaur Harmanpreet, who recently played for the Melbourne Renegades did not get picked up by any team for the future season. With past international and league cricket experience at her disposal, the indian batter over 35 years of age was a major surprise. This development also brings questions for franchises’ selection strategies and preferences of WBBL this year.
But six other Indian players were picked up by different teams of WBBL ensuring that Indian will not be easily missed in the tournament.
Indian Players Picked in the WBBL Draft 2024-25
Here is the list of Indian players who were picked by different teams for the 2024-25 season:
- Deepti Sharma – Melbourne Stars
- Jemimah Rodrigues – Brisbane Heat
- Shikha Pandey – Brisbane Heat
- Hemalatha Dayalan – Perth Scorchers
- Smriti Mandhana – Adelaide Strikers.
- Yastika Bhatia – Melbourne Stars
The following selections are noteworthy of the increase in the participation of Indian talent in the WBBL. The one who was pre-listed by her former team Adelaide Strikers Smriti Mandhana will also stay in the competition, apart from Yastika Bhatia and Hemalatha Dayalan also are in the list.
Still, the inclusion of some players like Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shikha Pandey itself shows the high call for the Indian cricketers of multiple utility who can perform well both on any surface and in any format.
Indian Players Unsold in WBBL Draft 2024-25
Some of the indian players who went unsold are as follows:
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Shreyanka Patil
- Radha Yadav
All this directly shows the competitive thinking of the team managements and player selection strategies.
WBBL 2024-25 Schedule and Ticket Information
The WBBL is not expected to launch until early October, with the tournament ending in mid-December. The lineup of matches are expected to be performed in the league amidst international stars as well as upcoming talents.
- First Match:12 October 2024
- The Last Match: December 16, 2024
Fans will be able to purchase WBBL 2024 tickets through the official WBBL website or associated ticket agencies. Special early bird discounts are up for grabs, including family packages so that no one misses out on the excitement at the stadium. Tickets are available from $10 for general admission and up to a premium area ticket at AUD 50. Under 15s and group bookings get discounted rates.
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