WBBL Draft 2024: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Shreyanka Patil find no takers

Harmanpreet played 62 matches in WBBL, scoring 1440 runs at a strike rate of 117.16.

Published - 01 Sept 2024, 12:32 IST | Updated - 02 Sept 2024, 19:33 IST

2 Min Read

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur went unsold in the 2024 Women’s Big Bash League draft. The 35-year-old has played five seasons in the competition, representing Melbourne Rengades and Sydney Thunder. Overall in 62 WBBL matches matches, she has 1440 runs at a strike rate of 117.16.

Harmanpreet led Mumbai Indians to victory in the 2023 edition of the Women’s Premier League and then the final in the last edition. She is also a vital cog in the Indian set-up and will be leading the team in the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, no franchise showed interest in her despite her impressive tally of 3426 runs in 153 T20I innings.

Like Harmanpreet, Shreyanka Patil also went unsold. The 22-year-old has been tremendous for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL as well as for the national team. She has 19 wickets to her name in 15 matches in WPL and also has 15 wickets in T20 internationals. She also played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2023 edition of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League.

Shreyanka, however, is not at her full fitness at the moment as she picked a finger injury on her left hand during the Asia Cup against Pakistan, which ruled her out of the competition. The Bengaluru-born is named in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup but is subject to her fitness.

Also Read - WBBL 2024 Draft: Jemimah Rodrigues joins Brisbane Heat, Melbourne Stars rope in Deepti Sharma

Among other notable names, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Meghana Sabbineni, and Veda Krishnamurthy also went unsold. Meanwhile, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey were roped in by Brisbane Heat, while Melbourne Stars signed the Indian duo of Deepti Sharma and Yastika Bhatia.

Star India batter Smriti Mandhana has been pre-signed by Adelaide Strikers and she will be joined by Laura Wolvaardt and Orla Prendergast. Meanwhile, Perth Scorchers have roped in Indian international Dayalan Hemalatha.

Here's how X reacted:

Harmanpreet Kaur not getting a team is not surprising to be honest. Playing a dated game these days. Starts slowly and rarely get going.
— Rajdeep Sharma (ৰাজদীপ শৰ্মা) (@Sharma_Rjdp) September 1, 2024

Several Indian players finding a gig, but not the national skipper in Harmanpreet Kaur is interesting.

I didn't expect her to get retained by Melbourne Renegades anyway & she hasn't been helped with her slow starts.
— Jeet Vachharajani (Women's Cricket) (@Jeetv27WC) September 1, 2024

Pretty telling that 6 Indian players have been signed in WBBL 10 but Harmanpreet Kaur is not one of them

Could be because of the price

She is a former MVP though in the tournament#WBBL10Draft #WBBL
— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) September 1, 2024