WPL 2023: Best India XI from second week of tournament

Shafali Verma, HarmanpreetKaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues. (Photo Source: WPL/ Twitter)

After witnessing two weeks of the 2023 Women’s Premier League (WPL) action, fans are now eager to see the final picture of the knockout round. So far, overseas cricketers have dominated the tournament in a couple of weeks. Players such as Meg Lanning, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews, Ellyse Perry, and Sophie Devine have displayed their efficiency and delivered solid numbers to their teams.

Talking about Indian names, the costliest WPL player and RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana has failed to live up to the expectations. However, there are also a few Indians who have been impactful in the tournament. Playing the domestic league, these Indian players have utilised home conditions brilliantly and emerged as stalwarts for their franchises.

Here is the best India XI after the week2 of the WPL

1. Shafali Verma

Shafali verma. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

The 19-year-old Shafali Verma has impressed WPL fans with her top-notch batting displays. Along with her skipper Meg Lanning, she has fulfilled her role of an opener by delivering fierce starts to the team. In her first game against Royal Challengers (RCB), she came hard on bowlers and scored 84 runs that helped her team to register a colossal 60-run win.

After the first game, she struggled to be among the runs in the next couple of matches. However, she got her rhythm back again in the fourth game. Riding on her 76-run knock that came off just 28 deliveries, the Capitals succeeded in vanquishing the Giants with 10 wickets in hand.

So far, the 19-year-old has notched up 187 runs in six contests with two half-centuries at a phenomenal strike rate of 185.14. The right-handed batter’s role will be essential for her side to be dominant against the opponents in further games in the competition.

2. Yastika Bhatia

Yastika Bhatia. (Photo Source: WPL/ Twitter)

Yastika Bhatia has looked decent with her bat for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the tournament thus far. Scoring 158 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 114.49, she has played her role effectively for the franchise. However, her best innings in this inaugural season is yet to come as she hasn’t played a massive knock with her bat till now.

The opening duo of Bhatia and Matthews has benefitted MI as the Caribbean batter runs the scored board at a swift pace with her aggressive game style while the other stabilizes the innings with her calm and composed batting attitude. However, in MI’s third game, Bhatia donned the role of a ferocious batter and scored 41 runs in just 32 deliveries at a fine strike rate of 128.13.

The innings against DC emboldened her confidence and she deliver an outstanding knock to her team in the next game against UP Warriorz. The 22-year-old played 42-run innings in 27 deliveries at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 155.56 and contributed to her team’s comprehensive eight-wicket triumph.

3. Jemimah Rodrigues

Jemimah Rodrigues. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

The adept India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has done her job excellently in the DC squad using her exceptional batting capability. Using her international experience and batting skills, she has vitalised DC’s batting unit in the middle order. The youngster kicked off her WPL journey in her own style, smashing 22 runs off 15 deliveries against RCB in her first game.

In the next game, she looked better and played an impressive knock for her franchise. Playing the brisk knock of 34 runs off 22 deliveries, she helped DC to put 211/4 on the board and made the team’s position strong in the game. With the help of his quick innings, DC beat UPW by 42 runs.

Talking about her overall numbers in the competition, the right-handed batter has hit 114 runs in five innings of six games at a healthy strike rate of 131.03. In the upcoming knockout matches, her franchise will rely on her to outclass the opponents to lift the prestigious trophy in the WPL maiden edition.

4. Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Harmanpreet Kaur has been amazing for MI since the beginning of the league as she has led her team from the front. Currently, MI are standing at the top of the points table with five wins and a loss in six games. Under her leadership, MI have become one of the two teams to advance to the knockout stage.

Along with her captaincy, she is also doing well with her bat. In the inaugural WPL game against Gujarat Giants (GG), the veteran notched up a terrific half-century and controlled the match for her team. With her rapid 65 runs off just 30 deliveries, MI amassed 207/5 on the board which proved too huge for the Giants.

After the first match, the 34-year-old played match-winning innings in the matches against UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants. In both contests, she scored half-centuries and became the Player of the Match. Till now, with 205 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 166.66, she is the leading run-getter for MI.

5. Kiran Navgire

Kiran Navgire. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Kiran Navgire was fetched at her base price of INR 30 lakh at the WPL Player Auction by UP Warriorz. Her reputation for playing blazing innings with her bat attracted the franchise’s attention. In the competition, she is one of the important members of the squad due to her batting.

Witnessing her past record for her domestic team Nagaland, UP-W have provided her with the responsibility to bat in the top order. Batting at number three, Navigire has scored 106 runs in six innings of five matches at a strike rate of 104.95. The right-handed batter started the tournament in an exquisite manner scoring a half-century against GG in the first match.

Following the target of 170 against the Giants, UPW’s batting line-up got stumbled three wickets at a score of 20. However, Navgire didn’t lose faith and kept her team in the match with her confident batting. Hitting 53 runs off 43 deliveries, with the help of five fours and two sixes, she played a pivotal role in her team’s thrilling three-wicket win.

6. Harleen Deol

Harleen Deol. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Gujarat Giants have become the first team to get eliminated from the maiden WPL after losing to RCB in the sixteenth contest of the league. However, the team will look to end its journey in this year’s competition on a positive note with a win against the UP Warriorz in the last match. This year, Harleen Deol has emerged as GG’s best batter thus far.

After starting the tournament horrendously against MI, Deol displayed her skills against the UPW. In a losing cause, she scored a quick 46 off 32 deliveries, with the help of seven fours at a magnificent strike rate of 143.75. Continuing her form, the 24-year-old played her best knock of this season against RCB.

Racking up 67 runs off 45 deliveries with nine fours and a six at a strike rate of 148.89, she powered her team to clinch an 11-run win against the Smriti Mandhana-led Royal Challengers. The victory had also given relief to GG as it was also the first success for GG in the tournament.

7. Kanika Ahuja

Kanika Ahuja. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Following the performances of RCB in the two weeks of the WPL, it could be said RCB haven’t performed as per the expectations of her team. However, in the sixteenth game of the league, they dominated Gujarat Giants (GG) in all three departments. Claiming the eight wicket-victory over Giants, they have kept their hopes alive to play in the knockout stage.

Earlier, RCB got their first victory in the 13th match of the tournament against UPW. Pursuing the score of 136, RCB found themselves in a perilous situation after losing four wickets on 60. With the presence of Sophie Devine, Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and Heather Knight, RCB were heading towards another defeat.

However, Kanika Ahuja, who looked focused and confident with her bat, played match-finishing innings of 46 runs off 30 deliveries and took the team home with five wickets in hand. Her knock ended RCB’s losing streak in the competition, and she also received the Player of the Match award after the game.

8. Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

UP Warriorz are looking to qualify for the knockout round after their incredible win against the table-toppers MI in the fifteenth match. The franchise has done well in the competition, winning three games and losing three out of six. Before the tournament, UPW spent a hefty amount of INR 2.6 crore on Deepti Sharma to make her their part.

The 25-year-old has justified her amount thus far in the tournament. With England spinner Sophie Ecclestone, she has reinforced the team’s spin attack efficiently. In the contest against RCB, Sharma delivered stunning numbers to her team with the ball. Along with Ecclestone, she, went heavily on Challengers, picking 3/26 figures.

In her team’s last win against MI, she grabbed the important wicket of Harmanpreet Kaur which put her team in a commanding position. Talking about her overall performance, the off-break bowler has fetched nine wickets in six matches at an economy of 8.00.

9. Shikha Pandey

Shikha Pandey. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Shikha Pandey is a vital cog in the DC squad as she bolsters the pace attack of the team with her fast bowling. Currently, she is the highest wicket-taker for her team, hunting eight batters in six games at an economy of 6.86. In the matches against the Giants and Challengers, she picked 3fers and grabbed attention towards herself.

Against GG, she supported the wrecker-in-chief Marizanne Kapp with her 3/26 figures. Taking her form ahead in the next match, she became the wrecker-in-chief against RCB. With her disciplined bowling, she got the wickets of Sophie Devine, Smriti Mandhana, and Richa Ghosh to restrict RCB to 150/4.

Riding on her sensational bowling efforts, DC succeeded in hammering RCB for the second time in the competition. As DC have reserved their spots for the knockout stage along with MI, the team management will want her to shine with the ball to dominate opponents.

10. Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Rajeshwari Gayakwad. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad has done a phenomenal job for UP Warriorz so far. Along with Deepti Sharma and Sophie Ecclestone, her role has been crucial for the spin attack. Utilising her international experience, the veteran has delivered some quality performances to her franchise in the competition.

For the first two games, she struggled to be among the wickets but in the third game against RCB, she looked in good touch. Removing Smriti Mandhana on four, she delivered a breakthrough to her tea. The veteran in her four-over spell picked up 1/26 numbers, which contributed to her team’s triumph.

In UPW’s win in a thriller, the 34-year-old added strength to the spin-bowling unit with her impactful bowling. Chipping in with the scalps of Amelia Kerr and Humaira Kazi, she wrapped up MI’s innings on 127/10 in 20 overs.

11. Saika Ishaque

Saika Ishaque (Photo Source: Twitter)

In MI’s dominance in the maiden WPL, their bowling attack has played a key role along with their batting. The team started its journey with a bang after thumping the Giants by 143 runs in the first game. Saika Ishaque, who took the team home with her 4/11 bowling numbers, became the Player of the Match and grabbed the eyes of league supporters.

Her last performance emboldened her to be aggressive in the next game against RCB. With her thrifty spell of 2/26, she again displayed her efficiency for her franchise. The 27-year-old maintained her consistency as she racked up three wickets against DC to bag the game.

The left-arm bowler is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker along with UPW’s Sophie Ecclestone. With 12 wickets in six games at an economy of 5.63, she became a key player to punch MI’s ticket for the knockout stage.

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