Smriti Mandhana and Nat Sciver-Brunt. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The much-awaited inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League is all set to get underway on March 4, 2023. The campaign opener of the five-team tournament will witness Gujarat Giants taking on the Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Alongside the two teams, three more teams namely Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz, and Royal Challengers Bangalore will compete for the prestigious cup.
All five teams managed to build up a strong squad at the first-ever player auction which took place on February 13. The cricketers then performed brilliantly during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 and proved why they were an asset to their respective sides. At the upcoming tournament, the players would be hoping to continue their form from the World Cup so as to help their side lift the WPL 2023 trophy.
On that note, let us look at 5 players who can finish as the top scorers in WPL 2023:
5. Alyssa Healy
Australian wicketkeeper-batter and captain of the UP Warriorz in the upcoming tournament, Alyssa Healy was in good touch throughout the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. Apart from being on the winning side, Healy finished the tournament as the fourth-highest run-scorer and the second-highest run-scorer for Australia with 189 runs from five ganes.
The initial stages of her career were rocky, but she has managed to become a mainstay for Australia, and the team looks incomplete without her, quite literally. She has grown to be one of the most destructive batters in world cricket and continues to impress with her skills every time she walks out on the field.
She scored two half-centuries in the five games at the World Cup last month, and also scored a half-century during the warm-up game against Ireland. Even after suffering an injury during the India tour in December 2022, Healy managed to make a strong comeback.
4. Nat Sciver-Brunt
One of England’s finest all-rounders, Natalie Sciver-Brunt will be playing for the Mumbai Indians at the inaugural WPL. Without a doubt, she’ll be a mainstay for the side and will have important roles to play not just as a top-order batter, but also as a bowler.
The 30-year-old made her international debut in 2013 and has been a key member of the squad for a decade now. She was the top scorer for her national side during the recently concluded T20 World Cup as she amassed 216 runs in five games, including two half-centuries.
Sciver was one of the major reasons behind England posting the highest-ever total in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, as they finished scoring 213/5 in the game against Pakistan. Though she managed to pick up only one wicket throughout the marquee event, she kept the batters in check and thus, will be the one to watch out for.
3. Richa Ghosh
India’s wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh was roped in by the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the WPL Auction last month. A day before the auction, Ghosh had played a match-winning knock for India in the World Cup game against Pakistan, which led to a bidding war between the franchises.
The 19-year-old has been in tremendous form for quite some time now. When Australia toured India in December 2022, she showcased her batting prowess and also put her wicketkeeping skills on display. Later, in January 2023, she carried the same momentum into the U-19 Women’s World Cup.
She played a key role in India’s title victory at the U19 World Cup and continued the form even during the senior Women’s T20 World Cup. She finished as the second-highest run scorer for India in the global event, having scored 136 runs in 5 matches. She plays the finisher’s role brilliantly and thus, will be the one to look out for.
2. Beth Mooney
One of Australia’s senior-most players and the national side’s opening batter, Beth Mooney was roped in by the Gujarat Giants. A recent recipient of the prestigious Belinda Clarke Medal. Mooney will be donning the captain’s hat in the tournament.
She was also awarded the Player of the Match for her 53-ball 74* during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa. As the Women in Yellow lifted the T20 World Cup for a record sixth time, Mooney stole the show with her power-hitting prowess while batting on top of the order.
Mooney notched up three half-centuries in the six outings at the marquee event, including the knock in the summit clash. As a result, she finished the tournament as Australia’s highest run-scorer with 206 runs. Given her current form and experience of playing in the T20 leagues, Mooney can finish as the highest scorer of WPL 2023.
1. Smriti Mandhana
The Indian vice-captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore’s skipper Smriti Mandhana has been terrific with the bat in the T20 format. Not just for India, she has performed brilliantly while representing the Southern Brave at The Hundred over the last two years.
Mandhana was the leading run-scorer for India even after missing out on the first game against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2023. Her experience of playing in the format and her skills of providing the side with a fiery start made her the most expensive player of the tournament as RCB acquired her services for a whopping INR 3.4 crore.
In the four editions of India’s three-team tournament- the Women’s T20 Challenge, Mandhana has also led the Trailblazers to a victory in the third edition of the tournament. In just four games at the global event, Mandhana managed to rack up two half-centuries including her career-best knock of 87(56) against Ireland. She will be the top contender to finish as the top scorer of WPL.
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