It was a bittersweet inaugural version of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals final 12 months. While the previous lived as much as their billing and superior from the league stage, the latter certified on to the ultimate. Though neither crew managed to win the title, the plain promise they confirmed places them among the many favourites once more heading into season two.
Capitals completed as runners-up within the inaugural version in 2023(Getty Images)
On paper, UPW proceed to have maybe the strongest squad within the five-team competitors. With skipper Alyssa Healy, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia McGrath, Danni Wyatt and Chamari Athapaththu within the facet, they’re loaded with match-winners. It’s the crop of Indian gamers, nonetheless, that didn’t do sufficient final season and will show to be a priority once more.
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Healy will head into the match with confidence as a frontrunner. The 33-year-old keeper-batter took over from Meg Lanning as Australia’s full-time captain and had profitable outings in opposition to India and South Africa not too long ago. With Jon Lewis as the pinnacle coach (he’s additionally the pinnacle coach of the England ladies’s crew), Warriorz will hope to utilise their sources higher this time round.
They might have struggled at instances to search out the correct stability final 12 months, however on the subject of firepower UPW are second to none. Healy wants no introduction as an opener, Deepti is among the premier all-rounders in world cricket, Ecclestone is the best spinner, the Australian duo of McGrath and Harris may be devastating within the center order and Wyatt and Athapaththu are confirmed performers with immense expertise.
While Shweta Sehrawat and Vrinda Dinesh, who was roped in for ₹1.3 crore, are promising choices with the bat, there may be loads of selection in spin bowling with Ecclestone and Deepti main the best way. It’s the quick bowling division, nonetheless, that doesn’t encourage a lot confidence. With Shabnim Ismail not retained and Lauren Bell withdrawing from the match, UPW have a scarcity of skilled frontline pacers. McGrath and Anjali Sarvani must shoulder bulk of the load.
The Lanning issue
For Delhi Capitals, it was a powerful first season as they edged out Mumbai Indians on internet run-rate to complete the league stage on the high of the factors desk. At the guts of their run was skipper Lanning’s efficiency with the bat. The right-hander completed as the very best run-scorer within the match, with 345 runs in 9 innings, and set the tone for her crew on the high of the order.
Having retired from worldwide cricket final November as arguably the best captain within the ladies’s sport, the serial winner shall be decided to go one higher and lay her arms on the WPL trophy this 12 months. With her astute management and masterful batting, Lanning stays the trump card for Capitals.
On the batting entrance, DC have established Indian names in Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues. While Shafali, regardless of her tendency to blow cold and hot, is undoubtedly a match-winner, Jemimah will take confidence from the runs she obtained in opposition to England and Australia in December-January.
In Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp and Annabel Sutherland, DC have world class all-rounders of their ranks. Young Alice Capsey too could be a game-changer with the bat and is efficient together with her off-spin. Delhi look gentle on keeper-batters and wrist spinners, however total their bowling division has loads of high quality. Shikha Pandey is an skilled campaigner and Titas Sadhu has risen quickly over the previous 12 months or so. In phrases of tempo, they’ve Kapp, Sutherland and Arundhati Reddy as nicely. As far as spin bowling is worried, Jonassen is among the greatest within the business and he or she’ll have the likes of Capsey, Poonam Yadav, Minnu Mani and Radha Yadav for assist.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
