WPL 2024: Gujarat Giants name Lea Tahuhu as Lauren Cheatle's replacement

The Gujarat Giants have announced Lea Tahuhu as Lauren Cheatle's replacement for the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024, which begins on February 23. The right-arm fast-bowler will sign a contract with Gujarat for INR 30 lakh. The 33-year-old has taken 78 and 109 wickets in 80 T20Is and 93 ODIs, respectively, for the national side.

Australian left-arm pacer Cheatle recently had surgery on her neck and won't be available for the forthcoming WPL season. In the accelerated round of the WPL player auction in 2024, the Giants signed the 25-year-old with a base price of INR 30 lakh.
 
''Gujarat Giants (GG) named Lea Tahuhu as replacement for Lauren Cheatle for the upcoming edition of the TATA Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024, starting February 23, 2024,'' WPL said in a statement.

"Our thoughts are with our Australian pacer, Lauren Cheatle, who will miss the upcoming WPL season following a medical procedure. We’re rooting for her swift recovery," Gujarat Giants wrote on X.

Also read: 'I don’t want to take any pressure' - Chamari Athapaththu ahead of WPL 2024

See Gujarat Giants post:

Our thoughts are with our Australian pacer, Lauren Cheatle, who will miss the upcoming WPL season following a medical procedure.

We’re rooting for her swift recovery. 🧡

📸 - Cricket Australia #BringItOn #GujaratGiants #Adani pic.twitter.com/EkKUFlr3Du

— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) February 1, 2024

Cheatle withdraws from WPL 2024 after skin cancer surgery

Lauren Cheatle withdrew from the 2024 WPL following surgery to remove skin cancer. She will also miss the rest of the domestic season, according to a statement made earlier this month by her Australian domestic team, New South Wales. The 25-year-old has had similar surgery done on her before, as she underwent surgery to remove skin cancer from her leg back in 2021.

Also read: Lauren Cheatle's cricketing journey interrupted by battle against recurring skin cancer

The bowler, who has also struggled with shoulder issues for the past four years, only joined the Australian team again in December 2023, when she played in a one-off Test match in India where the visitors lost by eight wickets. It is quite likely that Cheatle will return to pre-season training with her home team following the off-season break.