One overseas player each team should target at WPL 2025 Auction ft. Mumbai Indians and Lauren Bell
The player auction for the 2025 edition of the Women’s Premier League is set to take place in Bengaluru on Sunday, December 15. The five teams combined will fill 19 spots, including five overseas slots.
While four of the five teams have overseas slots open, with UP Warriorz having two vacant spots, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have their overseas department stacked up. They traded Danni Wyatt-Hodge before announcing their retentions, adding a sixth overseas player to their side.
On that note, let’s look at one overseas player each team should target at the WPL 2025 Auction.
Gujarat Giants - Lizelle Lee
The Giants don’t have a solid squad going into the auction, and they released one of the top players on their side, Sneh Rana. They are going into the auction with a purse of INR 4.40 crore, the highest among all teams, and will have to sign some good players.
Lizelle Lee is coming on the back of a terrific Women’s Big Bash League season, and GG getting her would do wonders for the team, especially after their poor outing in the previous edition of the tournament.
Lizelle Lee registered the highest individual score in WBBL history by notching up 150 runs against Sydney Sixers. She also became the first player to hit back-to-back centuries in the WBBL. Gujarat need a strong opening batter and Lee’s addition would solve one problem.
UP Warriorz - Darcie Brown
UP Warriorz have Australia legend Lisa Sthalekar in their think tank, and Alyssa Healy as their captain. The two might look to add another Aussie to their side to complete their bowling unit, which lacks an overseas pacer.
UPW released Lauren Bell from their squad ahead of the auction and might look for a like-for-like replacement for the English pacer. Darcie Brown, registered at a base price of ₹30 lakh, should be one of their choices.
Brown opted out of the first two editions of the tournament, but has put her name on the list of players to be auctioned for the 2025 edition.
Delhi Capitals - Sarah Bryce
Delhi Capitals played the inaugural edition of WPL with five overseas players in their side, making the most of the advantage gained by fielding an associate nation player. They might look to do the same by roping in Scotland’s Sarah Bryce at the auction.
The 24-year-old put up decent performances in the WBBL recently, representing the Sydney Sixers. She also has decent numbers in T20s and might be a good choice for DC, who retained their core and have only formalities to do at the auction.
Mumbai Indians - Lauren Bell
With England legend Charlotte Edwards as their head coach, and her compatriot Lauren Bell now available in the auction, they might target the pacer. They also released Issy Wong, and signing a fast bowler to fill their overseas spot would be the correct move.
Bell is a terrific new-ball bowler, and her exploits for England have been well documented. Though she hasn’t achieved much success at WPL, there’s a lot more to come from her.
Mumbai have Shabnim Ismail in their ranks, and Lauren Bell joining the former South African pacer will only strengthen the inaugural champions’ bowling unit. Given Ismail’s age and her proneness to injury, Bell would fit right in their team.