WPL 2023: Jhulan Goswami set to join Mumbai as mentor and bowling coach

Former India cricketer and one of the legends of Indian women’s cricket- Jhulan Goswami- is set to join the Mumbai-based franchise in the inaugural Women’s Premier League as the mentor and bowling coach. The former India pacer retired from international cricket in September 2022 after playing her final game at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officially announced the introduction of the Women’s Premier League earlier this month, and five out of 17 bidders managed to successfully bid for a franchise at the tournament. Indiawin Sports Pvt. Ltd. bagged the Mumbai-based franchise for INR 912.99 crore as the process garnered a total bid of a whopping INR 4669.99 Crore.

While no official confirmation has been given by the Mumbai franchise so far, a report by ESPNCricinfo revealed Goswami’s induction to the team’s coaching unit. The confirmation regarding the same was provided by former BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, who will now be a part of Delhi Capitals at the Indian Premier League as the team’s director.

Earlier, there had been reports of the Delhi Capitals-owned franchise roping in Jhulan Goswami for the WPL, but Ganguly, while speaking to the media at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, January 31, said:

“Jhulan has gone to Mumbai. We had given her an offer, but she is going to Mumbai.”

Now that the teams have been finalised, the next big thing for the first-ever WPL will be the player auctions. Several Indian and overseas players had been waiting for the tournament to get underway, and plenty registered themselves for the same as soon as the announcement was made. Since the tournament is scheduled to happen in the March 2023 window, the auction is likely to take place in February.

While the BCCI is yet to make a final call, the auction is likely to take place in New Delhi on February 11, or on February 13 in Mumbai. A majority of the players are currently gearing up for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup which is slated to begin on February 10 in South Africa.