WPL 2023: Best Indian XI from first week of tournament

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

The inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (2023) has been a roller coaster ride in its first week. Where teams like Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals kicked off the tournament with magnificent performances, the same was not the case for Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

With the first week of the tournament coming to an end, there were a lot of Indian players who came through for their side and put in exceptional performances to propel their side to victory. Following that, let us have a look at the best Indian XI from the first week of the WPL.

1. Yastika Bhatia (WK) 

The first name on the list is of wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia. The 22-year-old was roped in by Mumbai Indians for INR 1.5 Crore. Their investment in the young batter seems to have paid off, as Bhatia has been in sensational form and has been a key factor in Mumbai Indians’ winning run.

Mumbai Indians played three games in the first week of the 2023 WPL and won all of them thanks to a potent mix of batting and bowling. Many would opine that Yastika Bhatia has been exceptional for them and is integral in providing the start that is needed from the side.

Bhatia’s first match of the tournament against Gujarat Giants was a disappointment as she only managed to score one run. Following that game, she scored 23 runs in Mumbai’s fabulous win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. The 22-year-old was fabulous in the next match as she scored 41 runs against Delhi Capitals.

2. Shafali Verma

Shafali verma. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Star Indian batter Shafali Verma is also one of the players who left quite an impact in the first week for their side. The 19-year-old was roped in by Delhi Capitals for INR 2 crore. Out of the three matches Delhi Capitals played in the first week, the side won two of them, only losing to Mumbai Indians.

Shafali Verma has been in sensational form in the first week, playing some crucial knocks in the games that her side has played. In the second match of the 2023 WPL, Delhi Capitals took on Royal Challengers Bangalore, where Shafali Verma played an explosive innings.

Verma scored 84 runs off just 45 deliveries as DC registered a comprehensive victory against RCB in their first match. In the next game, the 19-year-old followed it up with a score of 17 against UP Warriorz. Though she failed to put up big scores in the next two games, she remains to be a key player in the combination.

3. Harleen Deol

Harleen Deol. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

Gujarat Giants are one of the sides who didn’t get the best of starts to the 2023 WPL. Out of the three matches that they played in the first week, they only managed to win one. The one positive aspect for them to take after the end of the first week has been the performances of Harleen Deol.

In the very first match of the tournament against Mumbai Indians, Deol was dismissed for a duck but she quickly recovered by scoring 46 runs in the very next game against UP Warriorsz; however, Gujarat Giants still lost the game.

They next took on Royal Challengers Bangalore, which was the only game that they won in the first week. Deol then scored 67 runs and was influential for Gujarat in registering their only win so far. But she has proven with the bat while batting on top of the order and has shown massive signs of improvement.

4. Kiran Navgire

Kiran Navgire. (Photo Source: WPL/Twitter)

UP Warriorz also got off to a decent start in the 2023 WPL. The team won two out of the three matches that they played in the first week and 28-year-old middle-order batter Kiran Navgire has played a big role in the team’s success.

UPW kicked off the 2023 WPL season by facing Gujarat Giants. As UPW registered an emphatic victory, it was Navgire’s knock of 53 off 43 deliveries that helped her side be on track during the chase. In the next game, she only managed to score two runs as Delhi Capitals defeated UPW.

The side’s second win came against a struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore; however, Navgire did not get the chance to bat in that game. In just that one knock, Navgire showed her batting prowess and proved why she’s a key member of her side.

5. Jemimah Rodrigues

Jemimah Rodrigues. (Photo Source: Twitter/WPL)

With 81 runs in three matches, Jemimah Rodrigues has been a key player for Delhi Capitals in the inaugural WPL. DC played three matches in the first week as well, where they managed to win two and lost one against Mumbai Indians.

In their very first game, DC faced Royal Challengers Bangalore, where Rodrigues scored an unbeaten 22 to take her side over the 200-run mark as her side registered a marvelous win. In their very next game, Jemimah Rodrigues scored an unbeaten 34 as Delhi Capitals won the game against UP Warriorz.

As DC lost their first game of the 2023 WPL, Mumbai Indians maintained their winning run as the side continues to dominate the tournament. Jemimah Rodrigues scored 25 runs in her team’s loss but she has also been brilliant on the field, saving runs and taking important catches

6. Harmanpreet Kaur (C) 

Harmanpreet Kaur (Photo Source: Twitter)

Skipper of Mumbai Indians, Harmanpreet Kaur, has been one of the most influential players at the 2023 WPL. Under her leadership, MI have won every game that they played in the first week of the competition.

In the very first match of the tournament, Mumbai Indians took on Gujarat Giants, where Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front. The skipper scored 65 off 30 deliveries and propelled her side to victory.

She did not get to bat in the second game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. She was unbeaten on 11 runs against Delhi Capitals in the third game, finishing the final rights of the chase with Nat Sciver-Brunt after bowling masterclasses from Saika Ishaque and Issy Wong.

7. Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma. (Photo Source: Deepti Sharma/ Twitter)

One of the biggest names in the Indian team, Deepti Sharma, was roped in by UP Warriorz in 2.6 crore. The 25-year-old has been sensational for her side as she continues to take wickets and has managed to put in decent batting performances as well.

In UP Warriorz’ very first game of the tournament, the side faced Gujarat Giants, where Deepti Sharma conceded 27 runs and took two wickets to hinder GG from putting on a massive score on the board. She also scored 11 runs in the game.

The second game saw UPW take on Delhi Capitals, where she conceded 40 runs and was unable to take any wickets. She also scored 12 runs in the game, but it was not sufficient to bag a win. However, she made a comeback in the very next match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking up three wickets and giving away just 26 runs.

8. Dayalan Hemalatha

Dayalan Hemalatha. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Dayalan Hemalatha was picked up by Gujarat Giants in the 2023 WPL auctions for the base price of 30 lakh. The side has only managed to win just one match out of the three they played in the first week of the tournament.

They took on Mumbai Indians in the season opener, where GG were completely dominated by their opponents. After MI notched up 207 runs on the board, GG were bundled out for just 64. Hemalatha’s unbeaten knock of 29 runs was the highest score in the side.

Gujarat next faced UP Warriorz, which also resulted in a loss. Hemalatha scored an unbeaten 21, but it was not enough in the end. In the one game that GG won in the first week, Hemalatha scored 16 in seven deliveries against Royal Challengers Bangalore as they grabbed their first points of the season.

9. Devika Vaidya

Devika Vaidya. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Devika Vaidya was roped in by UP Warriorz for 1.4 crore at the 2023 WPL auctions. Her versatility has served UPW quite well so far. The side’s first game of the tournament against Gujarat Giants saw them register a comprehensive victory. Vaidya bowled two overs where she conceded 24 runs without taking any wickets. Furthermore, she was dismissed after just four runs.

In their second game, UPW took on Delhi Capitals, where Vaidya improved with the bat, scoring 23 runs off 21 deliveries. Unfortunately, it was not sufficient enough to win in the end.

The third game saw total dominance from UPW as they took on Royal Challengers Bangalore; in the over that Vaidya bowled, she conceded 12 runs without taking any wickets. She also opened the innings alongside Alyssa Healy, scoring 36 runs and put on a show with the Australian opener as UPW chased the target without losing any wickets.

10. Shikha Pandey

Shikha Pandey 2. (Photo Source: Delhi Capitals/ Twitter)

Delhi Capitals Women brought in Shikha Pandey for 60 lakh, hoping that the right-arm medium bowler could influence the side through crucial breakthroughs, and that is exactly what she has been doing.

DC first took on Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first game of the tournament, Shikha Pandey conceded 35 runs and took one wicket as DC earned their first points of the season. The team followed up their winning start with yet another win against UP Warriorz. Pandey just gave away 18 runs and took one wicket as DC won the game by 42 runs.

The final game of the first week for Delhi Capitals saw them endure their first defeat of the season against Mumbai Indians, who have been in fabulous form. Pandey was left unbeaten on four runs and was unable to take wickets as DC registered their first loss.

11. Saika Ishaque

Saika Ishaque. (Photo Source: Jio Cinema)

Mumbai Indians roped in Saika Ishaque for a base price of 10 lakh, and it seems the move has paid off for the franchise. The 27-year-old started off the WPL with an amazing performance as she bagged four wickets and conceded just 11 runs to hinder the run chase for Gujarat Giants in the season opener.

In the very next game, MI took on Royal Challengers Bangalore, where Ishaque followed it up with yet another fabulous performance. She took two wickets and gave away 26 runs to propel her side to back-to-back victories.

As MI faced Delhi Capitals in their final game of the first week, Saika Ishaque once again put in a sensational showing as she took three wickets and conceded just 13 runs.