Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has stirred anticipation for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 auction, slated for December 9, by making a bold prediction. The auction is set to feature 165 cricketers, with 104 being Indian players and 61 hailing from overseas, including 15 from associate nations.
With players like Deandra Dottin and Kim Garth commanding the highest base price of ₹50 lakh and others like Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Amy Jones, and Shabnim Ismail carrying a base price of ₹40 lakh, the auction is expected to witness intense bidding wars.
In an interview with the Hindustan Times, Aakash Chopra, also the WPL expert for JioCinema, identified two players likely to trigger significant bidding competition. “I am going with Chamari Athapaththu and Deandra Dottin. Between the two, because they are multi-dimensional players,” Chopra stated. He emphasized the unique aspect of women’s cricket, where multi-dimensional skills are more prevalent compared to men’s cricket.
Chopra praised the versatility of Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu and the big-hitting capabilities of Deandra Dottin. Both players were absent from last year’s action, with Athapaththu going unpicked in the auction, and Dottin, despite being picked by Gujarat Giants, missing the season due to controversial circumstances.
The cricket expert highlighted the significance of these players in a tournament filled with excellent all-rounders. Commenting on Dottin’s release from Gujarat, Chopra acknowledged the franchise’s flawed auction strategy and speculated on the potential desire to have her back, given the release of other players in the same category.
As anticipation builds for the WPL 2024 auction, cricket enthusiasts await the outcome of bidding wars for these multi-dimensional players who promise to add significant value to the league.
