WPL 2023: Team-wise probable opening combination

The player auction for the inaugural season of the Women's Premier League was wrapped up on February 13. The marquee event in Mumbai created a lot of buzz as T20 stars from around the world went under the hammer. A total of 449 players auditioned at the WPL 2023 auction but only 87 of them were able to attract buyers.

Each team has packed themselves with top-quality players and looks quite formidable on paper. However, it will be interesting to see which players are chosen to start the proceedings with the bat for their receptive franchises. 

Here is the team-wise probable opening combination for WPL 2023:

5. Mumbai Indians - Hayley Matthews and Yastika Bhatia 

Hayley Matthews has been a proven performer in the international arena. She has featured in 82 T20Is and scored 1581 runs at a strike rate of 104.15. The 24-year-old has taken the opposition’s bowlers to the cleaners and provided the West Indies team with brisk starts on a consistent basis. 

Matthews is an experienced customer and thus, Mumbai are likely to start with the West Indies all-rounder in the opening slot. Given the composition of the side, the team management is likely to draft in their premier wicketkeeper, Yastika Bhatia as Hayley's opening partner.

Yastika has been in and around the Indian white-ball set-up in the last couple of years. She has played some superb knocks for the Women in Blue at the top of the order and has the potential to thrive in WPL 2023. Moreover, The 22-year-old aced the opener's role in the Senior Women's T20 Challenger Trophy 2022, notching up 203 runs in four games at a strike rate of 134.43. The southpaw would look to put up a show with the bat in the inaugural season of the marquee tournament.

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