WPL 2023: Best XI from sold players at auction

The WPL 2023 auction (WPL) lived up to its hype and fans witnessed some breathtaking action. Top-drawer players from around the world went under the hammer and franchises did not shy away from breaking their banks to acquire them. Of the 449 players who featured at the marquee event in Mumbai, 87 players took home WPL contracts. All the players who garnered interest at the auction table have proven their mettle on the cricket field and have the potential to take WPL 2023 by storm with their performances. Let us form a star-studded playing XI from the players who were sold at the marquee event. Here is the best sold XI of the auction: 1. Smriti Mandhana Smriti Mandhana has been a run-bank in the international arena. She has featured in 77 ODIs and aggregated 3073 runs at a strike rate of 83.91. Talking about the shortest format, the ace batter has scored 2713 runs in 114 matches at a strike rate of 123.26. Mandhana has put up an exhibition of her glorious stroke play and provided the Women in Blue with cracking starts on a consistent basis. Besides her batting might, she is a brilliant reader of the game and has displayed her captaincy credentials in the international arena in the absence of India’s incumbent skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. When Mandhana's turn arrived at the WPL 2023 auction, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore went into a bidding war to sign her and eventually, RCB acquired her services for a staggering sum of INR 3.4 crore, making her the most expensive player of the marquee event. 2. Shafali Verma Shafali Verma has been a proven performer for India across formats. She has featured in 21 ODIs and scored 531 runs at a strike rate of 83.62. Coming to the shortest format, the 19-year-old has scored 1300 runs in 54 matches at a strike rate of 133.47. Shafali is a no-nonsense cricketer and takes the bowling attack apart right from ball one. She was simply sensational in the T20I series against Australia in December and smashed 140 runs in five games at a strike rate of 134.61, including a blistering half-century. Shafali provides explosiveness at the top of the order and is an integral part of the Indian side. Therefore, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore went all guns blazing to pick her at the auction. Finally, Delhi managed to sign her for INR 2 crore. 3. Nat Sciver-Brunt Natalie Sciver-Brunt is one the finest all-rounders that England cricket has produced. She has piled on 3009 runs in 94 ODIs at a strike rate of 94.68 and bagged 65 wickets at an economy of 4.46. Coming to the shortest format, she has notched up 2054 runs in 106 T20Is and bagged 78 wickets at an economy of 6.45. In the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies, Sciver was at her best and hammered the opposition’s bowlers all across the park. She smashed 180 runs in three games at a strike rate of 104.04. Also, she bagged two wickets at an economy of 5.76. Sciver is a match-winner with both bat and ball and therefore, Mumbai Indians left no stone unturned to sign her at the auction. In the end, Mumbai acquired her for a whopping sum of INR 3.2 crore. 4. Harmanpreet Kaur Harmanpreet Kaur has been a lynchpin of the Indian batting line-up for more than a decade now. She has knocked the wind out of top-quality bowling attacks and stamped her authority on the cricket field. Also, she is quite handy with her off-spin and has chipped in with crucial wickets. Harmanpreet has notched up 3322 runs in 124 ODIs at an average of 38.18 and bagged 31 wickets at an economy of 5.19. Talking about the T20Is, the flamboyant cricketer has scored 2993 runs in 149 matches and picked up 32 wickets at an economy of 6.27. In addition to her skills with bat and ball, Harmanpreet is a proven leader and has guided India to many memorable victories. Therefore, when the ace batter arrived at the auction, Mumbai Indians went hammer and tongs to sign her and paid INR 1.8 crore for her services. 5. Ashleigh Gardner Ashleigh Gardner is a ferocious striker of the cricket ball and has dismantled bowling attacks with her power-hitting might. Further, the 25-year-old has been magnificent with the ball and has provided Australia with timely breakthroughs. Gardner has smashed 1116 runs in 71 T20Is at a strike rate of 131.44 and picked up 50 wickets at an economy of 6.23. When it comes to the 50-over format, she has scored 686 runs in 52 games at a strike rate of 117.26 and bagged 58 wickets at an economy of 4.09. Gardner lit the Women’s Big Bash League with her spectacular all-round displays. She plundered 339 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 150.66 and took 23 wickets in her outings The Australian all-rounder was in a rich vein of form leading into the auction and thus, many franchises were interested in having her at their disposal at the marquee event. Finally, Gujarat Giants managed to sign Ashleigh for INR 3.2 crore. 6. Deepti Sharma Deepti Sharma has been a prominent figure in the international arena. She has scored 1891 runs in 80 ODIs at an average of 36.36 and bagged 91 wickets at an economy of 4.18. Talking about the T20Is, the 25-year-old has scored 921 runs and bagged 101 wickets at an economy of 6.13. Deepti has been slotted in the middle order for India and provided vital contributions with the bat. Also, she has shown her versatility to play lower down the order and play blistering cameos when needed. On the bowling front, the ace all-rounder has been a strike force with the ball for the Women in Blue. Barring her all-round credentials, Deepti has shown her leadership might on the cricket field too. With the Agra-born at the helm, Velocity reached the finals of the Women’s T20 challenge 2022. The Indian all-rounder offers a complete package to any side and thus, UP Warriorz broke the bank to sign her at the auction and spent INR 2.6 crore to draft her into the team. 7. Richa Ghosh Richa Ghosh has set the international arena ablaze with her breathtaking performances. Slotting in the middle-order, the 19-year-old has taken bowling attacks to the cleaners and shifted the momentum of the game in favour of the Women in Blue many a time. Richa has made 17 appearances for her national side in the 50-over format and scored 311 runs at a strike rate of 84.97. When it comes to the shortest format, the wicketkeeper-batter has smashed 549 runs in 33 games at a strike rate of 135.89. Richa’s stocks in world cricket have been on a meteoric rise and so, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore went into a bidding war to add her to their repertoire. RCB placed a bid of INR 1.9 crore and acquired the Siliguri-born for the coming WPL season. 8. Pooja Vastrakar Pooja Vastrakar is India’s premier seam-bowling all-rounder across formats. She has taken the attack to the opposition right from ball one and played vital knocks slotting in at lower down the order. On the bowling front, she has provided timely breakthroughs to the Women in Blue. Vastrakar has scored 463 runs in 26 ODIs at a strike rate of 84.02 and bagged 20 wickets at an economy of 5.52. Coming to the shortest format, the ace all-rounder has scored 259 runs in 46 matches at a strike rate of 123.92 and picked up 30 wickets at an economy of 6.14. Vastrakar, with her ability to contribute in both departments is an asset to any side and thus, Mumbai Indians raised their paddle at the WPL 2023 auction to rope her into their side. The Mumbai franchise managed to sign the Indian all-rounder for INR 1.9 crore. 9. Sophie Ecclestone Sophie Ecclestone has been a bankable name in the international arena. The England spinner has featured in 55 ODIs and picked up 87 scalps at an economy of 3.68. Talking about the T20Is, the ace spinner has bagged 93 scalps in 68 T20Is at an economy of 5.81. Ecclestone has bamboozled batters with her variations and has been England's strike force with the ball. Unlike many spinners, the 23-year-old has shown her might to bowl at the fag end of the innings, which makes her a valuable addition to the side. Moreover, Ecclestone is no muck with the bat and has played crucial cameos for England. Given what the Cheshire-born brings to the table, UP Warriorz were inclined towards picking her at the auction and eventually, signed the ace spinner for INR 1.8 crore. 10. Megan Schutt Megan Schutt has been the mainstay of the Australian seam attack for over a decade. She has featured in 79 ODIs and bagged 112 wickets at an economy of 4.19. Coming to the shortest format, the 30-year-old has picked up 122 scalps in 94 matches at an economy of 6.19. Schutt has made the ball talk at the start of the innings and provided Australia with early breakthroughs. The ace pacer has been the go-to bowler for Australia when in need of wickets and has delivered on most occasions. Schutt has the ability to bowl at any phase of the game which makes her a great addition to a given side. Therefore, Royal Challengers Bangalore raised their paddle for the Australian pacer at the recently concluded auction and signed her for INR 40 lakh. 11. Renuka Singh Thakur Renuka Singh Thakur has been a consistent performer across formats. She has troubled batters with her swing and has been India’s strike force with the new ball. Also, the 27-year-old has shown her class by bowling during other phases of the game as well. Renuka has represented the national side on seven occasions in the 50-over format and picked up 18 wickets at a stellar average of 14.88. Coming to the T20Is, the ace pacer has bagged 30 scalps in 30 matches at an economy of 6.31. Courtesy of her superb showings, Renuka’s stature in the international arena has grown leaps and bounds and she has become India’s premier seamer across formats. Therefore, Royal Challengers Bangalore placed a bid of INR 1.5 crore to sign her at the WPL 2023 auction and drafted the right-arm pacer into their side. For a better experience: Download the CricTracker app from the IOS App Store and Google Play Store

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WPL 2023: Best XI from sold players at auction

449 players featured at the auction but with a squad limit of 18, only 87 players were able to take home WPL contracts.

8. Pooja Vastrakar

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