Team-wise one international female cricketer who could steal the limelight if given a chance in men's IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the toughest T20 league in the world. Its standards are so high that even if an individual’s performance in international cricket is good, it might not be good enough to sustain in the Indian T20 league. Over the years, there have been many well-renowned players who have struggled to get going in the IPL.

As a matter of fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that one needs a separate temperament to thrive in the ‘toughest 20 championship’. Thus, we see several players going unsold in an IPL auction. However, are there any female cricketers who could dominate this T20 league?

Fans who follow women’s cricket would know that several players could successfully play amongst the men. Among the top 8 T20I teams in women’s cricket, which are those cricketers who could steal the show, if given a chance in the IPL?

In the article, we shall be taking a look at team-wise one international female cricketer who could steal the limelight if given a chance in men’s IPL

1) Australia: Megan Schutt

At the moment, it is safe to say that Megan Schutt is one of the best bowlers in women’s cricket. She would give the male cricketers a run for their money. As a matter of fact, ever since she made her debut, she has been an integral part of the Aussie team.

The pacer is one of the few female cricketers to have picked consecutive four-fers in an innings. Moreover, on her day, she can demolish any batting unit. The Aussie pacer has picked 96 wickets in 73 WT20Is so far.

Her bowling average and strike rate are 15.35 and 15.2 respectively. This includes three four-fers as well. However, the most astonishing part of her record has to be her miserly economy rate (6.05).

2) India: Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur is unarguably one of the most explosive female batters of this era. When she gets going, a number of bowlers face her wrath. Irrespective of the opposition bowler, her mantra is always ‘see ball, hit ball’.

The aggressive batter also happens to be the first Indian cricketer to be roped in by a foreign T20 league. As a matter of fact, she has had a superb WBBL career so far, and recently was named the WBBL 2021 Player of the Tournament and rightly so. The Indian T20I captain scored 406 runs at a strike rate of 130.96.

Kaur has also racked up 2307 runs in her WT20I career so far. Her batting average in 120 games is 26.51. This includes as many as six fifties and a hundred.

3) West Indies: Deandra Dottin

When it comes to the shortest format of the game, Deandra Dottin is a veteran. She has made it a habit to impress one and all with her exploits in T20s. As a matter of fact, the West Indies all-rounder was the first women to score a T20I century, which came against South Africa in 2010.

Her contributions were significant during the 2016 T20 WC where her team went on to win the tournament. Speaking about her overall numbers, she has scored 2681 runs in 124 WT20I games at an average of 26.28. This includes 12 fifties and two hundreds.

The all-rounder from Barbados has also picked 61 wickets in 64 innings. Her bowling average and strike rate are 18.44 and 17.6 respectively. Last but not the least, she has played in The Hundred Women’s competition, as well as for the Trailblazers in the Women’s T20 Challenge.

4) England: Anya Shrubsole

Anya Shrubsole is one of the best female cricketers England has ever seen. Her USP, as a bowler, has to be her in-swingers. Indian fans would never forget her spell in the final of the Women’s ODI WC 2017.

However, she is a superb T20 bowler as well, as her record in the shortest of the game is impressive, to say the least. The English pacer has picked 102 wickets in 79 WT20Is.

Her bowling average and strike rate are 15.55 and 15.6 respectively. This includes two four-fers as well as a fifer. Last but not the least, her economy rate is magnificent too (5.95).

5) Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu

Chamari Athapaththu is the pride of Sri Lanka. When it comes to female cricket, she has been a silent assassin for the Island nation. The batting all-rounder would definitely be a valuable edition in any IPL franchise.

She has scored 1646 runs in 85 WT20Is so far. Her batting average and strike rate are 20.07 and 97.68 respectively. This includes two fifties and a hundred as well.

The Lankan has proved to be a handy bowler as well and can bowl off-spin. She has picked 26 wickets in 40 innings. Her bowling average and strike rate are 31.38 and 26.5 respectively.

6) South Africa: Marizanne Kapp

Ever since she made her international debut in 2009, Marizanne Kapp has been one the best all-rounders for the Proteas. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that South Africa is blessed to have a player like her. She is a viable addition to any team.

Kapp has scored 1046 runs in 84 WT20Is at an average of 19.01. She has also taken 66 wickets in 73 innings. Her economy rate is on the lower side as well (5.45).

In a dynamic league like the IPL, teams would need a three-dimensional player like her. Moreover, her fitness standards match the demands of the toughest T20 league in the world. Thus, in a hypothetical reality, teams would spend a lot of bucks to get the Proteas all-rounder in their team.

7) Pakistan: Javeria Khan

Over the years, Javeria Khan has been one of Pakistan’s key female cricketers. Irrespective of her current form, she has already accomplished a lot in her career so far. She is predominantly a top-order batter.

The Pakistani batter has scored 1895 WT20I runs in 105 matches. Her batting average and strike rate are 22.03 and 93.76 respectively. This includes nine fifties as well.

Another important point to be noted is the fact that she can bowl part-time off-breaks as well. Taking her experience into account, the veteran could very well groom youngsters of an IPL franchise. Moreover, team owners can build their sides around her.

8) New Zealand: Sophie Devine

Contrary to what people believe, Steve Smith isn’t the only player from Oceania to have started off as a bowler, only to then become a top-order batter. However, in this case, Devine isn’t just a top-order batter, but is also a genuine all-rounder.

As we speak, she is one of the best players in female cricket. The White Ferns’ all-rounder has scored 2561 runs in 98 WT20Is so far. Her batting average and strike rate are 29.77 and 123.60 respectively. She has also notched 15 fifties and a hundred.

The New Zealander has also taken 97 WT20I wickets in 89 innings. Her bowling average and strike rate are 17.64 and 16.7 respectively and her economy rate of 6.34 is also decent. Last but not the least, she has picked up a four-fer as well in T20Is.