Trinbago Knight Riders sign Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey for WCPL 2024
The Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) signed India’s Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey for the upcoming season of the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 on Sunday, July 7. The two players join former Australia captain Meg Lanning and all-rounder Jess Jonassen among overseas signings. Notably, Jemimah and Shikha will play their first season in the Caribbean T20 league.
Jemimah has a decent track record in T20Is, scoring 1997 runs in 93 matches with the help of 11 fifties. She is also a part-time off-spinner. The 23-year-old brings in a lot of experience, having played in several women’s T20 leagues such as Big Bash League and The Hundred. The right-hander batter scored 235 runs in nine matches for Delhi Capitals Women (DCW) in the last edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024.
Meanwhile, Shikha Pandey has scalped 43 wickets in 62 T20Is for the Women in Blue. Overall, she has picked up 122 wickets in international cricket. The 35-year-old pacer bagged nine wickets for DCW in WPL 2024.
Speaking about her participation in WCPL, Rodrigues said (via ESPNCricinfo):
"This is the first time I'll be coming to the WCPL. I've played for India in the Caribbean quite a bit, but I'm really excited that I'll be representing the Knight Riders in WCPL.”
“We all know the legacy that they have across the globe. Even the TKR Women's team, champions of 2022, are a very proud side. I believe this tournament is also going to serve as a very good preparation for us leading up to the Women's World T20 in October, with some of the best players in the world taking part in the competition," she added.
Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders group expressed his gratitude to BCCI for allowing Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey to play in WCPL 2024. He said (via ESPNCricinfo):
"Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey will add volumes to the quality of the tournament, and we are very thankful to the BCCI for facilitating their first-ever appearance in the WCPL.”
TKR complete squad for WCPL 2024 after Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey’s signings
TKR has retained five players besides four overseas signings ahead of CPL 2024. They are Deandra Dottin, Shamilia Connell, Kycia Knight, Zaida James and Samara Ramnath. The remaining six slots will be filled at the WCPL 2024 draft, which will take place in July.
The 2024 edition of WCPL will be played at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad from August 21 to 29.
TKR squad for WCPL 2024 so far: Deandra Dottin (captain), Shamilia Connell, Kycia Knight, Zaida James, Samara Ramnath, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikha Pandey, Meg Lanning and Jess Jonassen.