Women's Big Bash League: Six Indian players picked in the initial WBBL rounds

Six Indian cricketers aced takers in the Women’s Big Bash League draft on Sunday. Smriti Mandhana was part of the Adelaide Strikers per a pre-signed deal. Meanwhile, batter Jemimah Rodrigues and spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma were the top picks in the platinum round of the overseas draft. Sharma was the fourth pick of the day when Melbourne Stars selected the star Indian player. Rodrigues, meanwhile, was seventh in the first-round picks when Brisbane Heat claimed the youngster. While the WBBL drafts picked multiple debutants for the upcoming edition, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur failed to bag any contracts on Sunday.

Yastika Bhatia earns first WBBL contract as Shreyanka Patil misses out

Top-order batter and a part of the Gujarat Giants squad in the WPL, Dayalan Hemalatha is headed for her first WBBL season as Perth Scorchers selected her in the draft. Similarly, Indian wicket-keeper Yastika Bhatia will mark her WBBL debut this year as Melbourne Stars picked her on Sunday. Bhatia will join Deepti Sharma in the Melbourne lineup for the latest WBBL edition, which is slated to kick off on October 27. Moreover, Brisbane Heat also claimed all-rounder Shikha Pandey, who is anticipated to fortify the pace lineup of the squad. Pandey will join Jemimah Rodrigues as part of the Brisbane Heat this year.

While Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma were the first-round picks from India, Danni Wyatt was the first player to be selected, claimed by Hobart Hurricanes. The same round witnessed ace spinner Sophie Ecclestone joining the Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers opting for Laura Wolvaardt. While six Indians made it into the WBBL drafts over the four rounds, some key players like young spin sensation and 2024 WPL winner Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav missed out on a contract.