Image Source: WBBL
[Saba Sports News] The draft for the tenth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) took place on September 1, with eight teams finalizing their squads ahead of the season. Six Indian players were selected, including Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Jemimah Rodrigues. Although the Indian contingent is expected to miss the start of the tournament, they should be available for the later stages of WBBL10.
Smriti Mandhana was pre-signed by the Adelaide Strikers, becoming the first Indian player to be pre-picked by a BBL team. This marks her fourth WBBL team, reuniting her with coach Luke Williams, who also coaches her in the WPL.
Deepti Sharma was the earliest Indian pick in the draft, selected fourth by the Melbourne Stars. Sharma impressed in the Women’s Hundred and WPL, making her a valuable addition to the Stars. Jemimah Rodrigues followed as the seventh pick, joining Brisbane Heat after a stellar WPL season. She’ll be joined by Shikha Pandey, picked 15th, who, despite being out of the Indian setup, is seen as a strong asset.
Dayalan Hemalatha was chosen by Perth Scorchers as the first pick of the third round, likely on the recommendation of her Gujarat Giants captain, Beth Mooney. Yastika Bhatia was the final Indian pick, joining Deepti Sharma at the Melbourne Stars.
Notably, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, despite her past success in WBBL, and Shreyanka Patil, who excelled in the WPL, went unsold.
WBBL10 kicks off on October 27, shortly after the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. The Indian players are expected to remain in Australia for India’s tour of Australia following the WBBL season.