According to a report from Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has moved the Women’s Premier League (WPL) retention deadline to November 7, extending it from the previous October 15 date. The board informed the franchises of this change on Tuesday.
Interestingly, the October 15 deadline was also in place for 2023, during which five franchises retained 60 players, including 21 international cricketers. The upcoming WPL 2025 mini-auction will be based on the retentions announced, with the auction purse increasing to INR 15 crores.
Additionally, there may be a mega-auction and the introduction of a new team after the 2025 season. Currently, the WPL features five teams: Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and UP Warriorz.
The Bengaluru franchise, captained by Smriti Mandhana, claimed its first title last season by successfully chasing down a target of 114, winning the final against the Capitals by eight wickets.
“The WPL has provided us with a solid foundation to identify talent”- Amol Muzumdar
Indian women’s team head coach Amol Muzumdar believes the first two editions of the WPL have highlighted the depth of talent throughout the country. In a recent press conference at the Women’s T20 World Cup, he stated (via PTI):
“I think WPL has been a very successful tournament so far in the last couple of editions. You have seen what response WPL has had. Obviously the stats have helped and we have dug into a lot of statistics and we have seen the results.”
“Some of the players that have come into the Indian squad here at the World Cup, I think are products of WPL as well. Of course, not undermining the first-class cricket as well back home, but WPL has given us a strong base to find players,” he added.
Unfortunately, the Indian team did not secure a semi-final spot in the current Women’s T20 World Cup. They won two out of four matches but lost to Australia and New Zealand.
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