Mumbai, Dec 9:
The auction for the second Women’s Premier League came to an end here on Saturday, but not before the franchise owners showered good money on many players, including Australia’s Annabel Sutherland and uncapped India player Kashvee Gautam who hit headlines.
The duo raked in a moolah of Rs 2 crore each from Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants, respectively. An uncapped Vrinda Dinesh also breached the bank by getting a big purse after her stellar stint in the domestic circuit.
Kashvee holds records in the women’s circuit as she enjoys a hat-trick in her name for Chandigarh against Arunachal Pradesh in an U19 one-day match.
She also held her sway in this year’s Women’s Senior T20 Trophy as she bagged 12 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 4.14 runs per over. The Chandigarh star also tested herself in the Hong Kong ACC Emerging tournament with Team India as well.
Delhi Capitals outbid Mumbai Indians for Sutherland as they bought the Australia allrounder for Rs 2 crore in a fierce competition. The Aussie, who had a very good campaign in the Women’s Big Bash League, became the second-most expensive Australia player to be sold at a WPL auction.
In the recently-concluded Women’s BBL, Sutherland bagged 23 wickets and scored 288 runs for Melbourne Stars.
Aged 22 years, Sutherland has made quite an impression at the domestic and international level. She brings to the table her allround capabilities with bat and ball.
Sutherland’s cricketing career began at a very raw age when she became the youngest women’s cricketer to feature in the WBBL for Melbourne Renegades at the age of 15.
She showcased her talent from the very start, and quickly became a key player for the Melbourne Stars, her current WBBL team.
Sutherland’s international statistics are also impressive, with a hundred each in Women’s Tests and Women’s ODI. She also has played for Australia in all the three formats of the game, including at the prestigious 2020 T20 World Cup.
Vrinda was bought by UP Warriorz for a record bid of Rs 1.3 crore after a fierce bidding war with two other franchisees. Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Giants triggered the bidding war. But, UP Warriorz jumped into the fray after the bid price shot up past Rs 80 lakh.
RCB put themselves off, which paved the way for UP Warriorz to buy the 22 years old Vrinda for Rs 1.3 crore.
Mumbai Indians scripted a new trend among the franchisees by completing their overseas quota without a single Australia player as they bought South African star Shabnim Ismail. In the last edition, they had just signed up Heather Graham who was released without a game.
