Harmanpreet Kaur overlooked in WBBL 2024 draft, six Indians picked
In a surprising turn of events, Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur was not selected by any team in the 2024 Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) draft. This development comes despite six other Indian players securing contracts for the upcoming 10th edition of the tournament. Kaur, who has previously played for Sydney Thunders and Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL, was among 19 Indian players included in this year's draft but found no takers.
Kaur's previous WBBL achievements and current snub
Kaur's omission from the 2024 WBBL draft marks a significant shift in her career trajectory. She was the sole Indian player to participate in the previous season of the WBBL. Notably, Kaur holds the distinction of being the only Indian player to have won Player of The Tournament (POTM) award in 2021. Despite these accolades and her past stints with Sydney Thunders and Melbourne Renegades, no team expressed interest in her this year.
Other Indian players overlooked in WBBL 2024 draft
In addition to Kaur, Shreyanka Patil also did not attract any interest from the teams. Patil was a key contributor to Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) triumph in the 2024 Women's Premier League, securing the Purple Cap award with an impressive haul of 13 wickets. Despite her recent success and inclusion in India's squad for the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, she was overlooked in this year's WBBL.
Six Indian cricketers secure WBBL 2024 contracts
Despite these surprising omissions, six Indian players have secured their places in the upcoming WBBL season. Smriti Mandhana, the vice-captain of India's women's cricket team and RCB's WPL 2024 title-winning skipper, made history by becoming the first Indian to sign a pre-draft overseas contract. She will play for Adelaide Strikers in the 2024 season under coach Luke Williams.
More Indian players to feature in WBBL 2024
All-rounder Deepti Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia have been signed by Melbourne Stars for the 2024 WBBL season. Meanwhile, Brisbane Heat has picked up Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey. Perth Scorchers have chosen Dayalan Hemalatha for their team. These selections ensure a strong Indian presence in the upcoming tournament despite Kaur's unexpected omission from the draft.
WBBL 2024 to commence after Women's T20 World Cup
The 2024 WBBL is set to begin on October 27, just a week after the conclusion of the Women's T20 World Cup. As India prepares for this major event with Kaur at the helm, the focus now shifts to their performance in these upcoming matches. The Indian team will start their campaign against New Zealand on October 4 in Dubai before taking on Pakistan two days later at the same venue.
