WPL 2024 Auction: What do the five teams need? What are the possible strategies?

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 player auction is set to take place on 9 December in Mumbai. After a successful inaugural season in 2023, all five teams will be looking to build their best sides for round two of WPL. A total of 165 players including 104 Indians are set to go under the hammer in the auction.

Ahead of the event, we take a look at the requirements for the five teams and what could be their auction strategies.

Gujarat Giants

3️⃣ slots che aapdi team ma. #GiantArmy, who would you like our newest overseas #Giants to be at this #TATAWPL Auction? ✈️#GujaratGiants #Cricket #BringItOn #Adani pic.twitter.com/GEDy6m7jjX

— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) December 7, 2023

GG finished last in the WPL 2023 points table, winning just two matches from eight. They responded to that by releasing a host of players and now have 10 slots to fill with three for overseas players. They currently have Rs 5.95 core to spend, the most in the 2024 auction. In Beth Mooney, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, they have good batters and Ashleigh Gardner and Sneh Raha are terrific spinners, but they lack good pacers. They can target Shabnim Ismail — one of the fastest pacers going around. Meghna Singh is another pacer they could target.

Apart from pacers, they should look to acquire impact players and Deandra Dottin could be a choice.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

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12th Man Army, which domestic stars would add the X factor to our squad? Remember, we have upto 4 slots to fill

Let’s analyse the picks, on @hombalefilms brings to you 12th Man TV. #PlayBold #BidForBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/vojY2QR3x7

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) December 8, 2023

Only RCB were as bad as Gujarat last season, winning just two matches and earning four points, but they only have seven slots to fill including three overseas players. They have Rs 3.35 crore to spend. With players like Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine, RCB have a lot of impact players. Renuka Singh adds more strength to their side, but they probably don’t have an established name in the spin department. Off-spinner Shreyanka Patil’s recent India debut has given them a boost but they could target more spinners in the auction. Australian leg-spinner Georgia Wareham is someone they may target among other spinners. A renowned pacer is also something they may target.

UP Warriorz

Our Warriorz WhatsApp group is buzzing. #UPWarriorzUttarDega #CapriSports pic.twitter.com/inSl6RqWoe

— UP Warriorz (@UPWarriorz) December 8, 2023

UPW have five slots to fill including one for an overseas player. They have Rs 4 crore in the bank and could target an overseas established pacer considering they have released Shabnim Ismail. Also, they released Devika Vaidya which means UPW could target a quality Indian all-rounder. They could go for USA’s Tara Norris to ensure five foreigners in the playing XI and can also go for Indian all-rounders.

Delhi Capitals

A season recap before we head into #WPLAuction 2023

Dilli, are you ready to #ROAR tomorrow? #YehHaiNayiDilli #WPL #WomensPremierLeague #FemaleCricket pic.twitter.com/9whkswe8ob

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) December 8, 2023

DC topped the table last time and under the captaincy of Meg Lanning, they look like a complete side. With just three slots to fill including an overseas player and a budget of Rs 2.25 crore, DC may look at add an Indian middle-order batter as that is something they miss. If that may not happen then an Indian all-rounder could be their next target.

Mumbai Indians

The 2023 champions have five slots to fill including an overseas player and only Rs 2.1 crore to spend, which means MI could go for a lot of value and utility players. Their squad in itself is extremely good. Their strategy could be to buy young players with an eye on the future.