In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, several franchises have announced their player retainments and releases. Most importantly, Nat Sciver-Brunt has become the only England player to be kept by her franchise for all four seasons of The Hundred so far. The all-rounder will continue to be part of the defending champions’ setup, Mumbai Indians. She’ll be joined by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has booked her place on the roster.
The announcement comes as teams finalize their rosters in preparation for the auction scheduled for November 27 in New Delhi. There are now just 73 slots left to be filled, including 23 positions reserved exclusively for international players. This year’s auction is shaping up to be extremely competitive, as teams will be scrambling to improve their rosters in preparation for the upcoming season.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have retained Smriti Mandhana, maintaining their key player as they aim to improve upon previous seasons. Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals have confirmed the retention of five players: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, and Niki Prasad. This shrewd move not only solidifies the Capitals’ core but reinforces their desire to continue as serious contenders for years to come.
Landmark releases like Preservica’s and OpenText’s have changed the landscape of what a team composition can and should be. Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone are some of the high-profile names that Warriorz just recently released. RCB has undergone some major overhauls, with Charlie Dean and Danni Wyatt-Hodge no longer on the roster. In addition, Alice Capsey has been signed and then released by Delhi Capitals in WPL 2023, while Danielle Gibson is no longer a member of Gujarat Giants.
Each of those franchises’ decisions are indicative of a smart approach to team building in an increasingly fast-paced, ever-changing league. Now, as the auction date approaches, enthusiasm is palpable. Supporters are clamoring as teams position themselves for big new signings and trades that will shape the balance of power in the league.
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