Similar to the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Women’s Premier League (WPL) was established with the intention of promoting local talent, providing them with a stage to showcase their talent, and competing with some of the best cricketers in the world.
Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, and Saika Ishaque made their mark in the competition during the league’s first week. However, there are a few other Indian cricketers who have failed to perform, and it is safe to say that they have performed poorly thus far in the competition.
These players, many of whom are regular members of the national team, are surrounded by a sense of unease even though there is still a significant portion of the tournament to be played.
Let’s quickly take a look at these three players and figure out why they haven’t performed to their potential.
#3 Smriti Mandhana
In the inaugural Women’s Premier League, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana was acquired for a staggering INR 3.4 million. Unfortunately, so far in the tournament, her bat and leadership performances have been subpar.
Mandhana has a lot of experience playing the shortest format of the game, but she has only scored 88 runs in five matches and has had trouble competing with spin bowlers. The fact that RCB is currently at the bottom of the table may be a result of her inability to provide a strong start to the innings.
Under Smriti’s captaincy, RCB has yet to win a game in the tournament. Elimination is now a real possibility, putting the franchise in a precarious position. They must win their remaining four matches for a slim chance of qualifying. However, in order for that to occur, Mandhana must attack with all of his might.
#2 Richa Ghosh
In spite of her impressive performances at the Women’s T20 World Cup, in which she scored 136 runs at an average of 68, Richa Ghosh has struggled to find her form in the Women’s Premier League’s inaugural season. The young Siliguri cricketer has been reliable as a wicketkeeper, but she hasn’t been good with the bat, leaving her team wanting more.
Richa has only scored 78 runs in five matches, which is a significant underperformance. She has yet to live up to her lofty price tag, despite being one of the most expensive Indian purchases at the WPL auction at INR 1.9 crore.
Richa has four matches left to redeem herself and aid her team in securing a playoff spot. She must capitalize on her strengths and use her naturally aggressive style, which has worked well for her in the past, to her advantage.
#3 Anjali Sarvani
The left-arm pacer from Andhra Pradesh, Anjali Sarvani, has performed poorly in the current five-team tournament and in the WPL 2023. Her ineffectiveness with the bat has been evident throughout the tournament, as she has only taken one wicket in four matches.
The pacer has had a difficult time because things have not gone as planned for her. She has been a straightforward target for opposing batters throughout the tournament, and her line and length have been extremely off.
Anjali is an essential member of the T20 team despite being left out of the Indian squad. The 25-year-old has been given a golden chance to show off her skills and get back into the national team through the WPL. To help her team, the UP Warriorz, secure a playoff spot, she needs to seize the opportunity with both hands and perform exceptionally well in the subsequent five games.