4 min readNew DelhiFeb 23, 2024 06:54 PM IST
First published on: Feb 22, 2024 at 10:38 PM IST
As the Women’s Premier League gets underway in Bengaluru on Friday, there is plenty of buzz around how the second season will pan out after the success of the inaugural edition.
Here’s a quick guide to the five teams that will line up for WPL 2024.
Mumbai Indians
2023: Champions
MVP: Nat Sciver-Brunt
Champions of the first edition, the team to beat in the second as well. MI are stacked with all-rounders (so much so that the official squad page has 13 out of 18 players listed there). Shabnim Ismail’s addition increases their squad strength, and Nat Sciver-Brunt will be a Player of the Tournament contender. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will be tough to beat… but also have a target on their backs. The captain’s form will also be under scanner. A couple of new domestic spinners is an exciting addition. Oh, and MI are the only team in WPL 2024 without an Australian presence.
Delhi Capitals
2023: Runners-up
MVP: Marizanne Kapp
Meg Lanning seems determined as ever, post her recent international retirement and having her back is a big off-season win for DC, and perhaps most importantly for Shafali Verma. The Indian opener will look to hit the highs of 2023 in Lanning’s company. Marizanne Kapp comes into the tournament in terrific form. Annabel Sutherland is an interesting big-money addition and she strengthens an already brilliant pace-bowling unit. Spin and batting depth is where DC had issues last time, and so they will hope the likes of Radha Yadav, Minnu Mani can step up. Lanning doesn’t like losing tournaments, so watch out for DC.
UP Warriorz
2023: Eliminator
MVP: Sophie Ecclestone
Alyssa Healy’s parting words after defeat in WPL 2023 Eliminator, while being disappointed at not reaching the final, was that the team tried through the season to give a platform to young domestic talent. The likes of Parshavi Chopra, Shweta Sehrawat and S Yashasri will look to repay that faith in the second season. The pressure, however, will be on their sole Indian international star. Deepti Sharma struggled with the bat and was hit-and-miss with the ball last year, and UPW (India too) will expect more. Predominantly though, Healy & Co are still largely dependent on their star overseas contingent, Chamari Athapaththu being an interesting late addition.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
2023: Fourth
MVP: Richa Ghosh
Smriti Mandhana and Co should be, on paper, considered contenders. RCB didn’t live up to the promise their squad had last season but they have done well to address some issues. Spin bowling was a concern and the arrival of Georgia Wareham and Ekta Bisht goes a long way to help. In Smriti and Richa Ghosh, RCB have two of India’s most exciting batting stars, and the captain, especially, will hope to hit the ground running at their home. Shreyanka Patil has had a whirlwind year and must kick on to better levels. With a new coach in Luke Williams, and exciting new additions, is Ee Sala their turn?
Gujarat Giants
2023: Fifth
MVP: Ash Gardner
Gujarat Giants is the franchise that has overhauled the most after WPL 2023, unsurprisingly. While RCB underwhelmed despite having a quality squad, GG’s first season was largely underwhelming, period. Michael Klinger is the new coach, while Beth Mooney returns (she missed the season after a first-match injury) to lead. The most exciting addition is that of batter Phoebe Litchfield, touted to be the future of Australia, who had a stunning tour of India recently. But having passed on big Indian names in the first auction, domestic talent remains a worry. Spurred on, however, vice-captain Sneh Rana, will be hoping to put her name back in India reckoning.
Harmanpreet Kaur's side will be tough to beat... but also have a target on their backs. The captain's form will also be under scanner. (WPL/Twitter) 
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