WPL Auction - India uncapped: Uma Chetry could go big

Auction for the Women's Premier League's (WPL) second edition is almost here, many players will go under the hammer in Mumbai on Saturday (December 9).  The uncapped players will have a base price of 10 lakhs and will be hoping to get picked up by the five franchises. There are only 30 spots available and nine of them are for the overseas players. So, that means 104 Indians will be competing for the 21 vacant slots.

Women’s CricZone takes a look at five uncapped Indian players who might get picked up at the auction.

Uma Chetry (Assam)

From becoming the second Assamese player called up to the Indian team (for the Bangladesh tour), to being on the limelight during the recent India A series against England A, Uma Chetry has been in the news in recent times for the right reasons. The wicket-keeper has also been a part of the India squad that won gold during the Asian Games.

During the England A series, Chetry stumped three batters – one of them being the priced scalp of Grace Scrivens. Chetry also gave India A strong starts with her ability to go after the bowling right from the start. She could be valuable for teams who are looking for a domestic wicketkeeper-batter.

Kashvee Gautam (Chandigarh)

Back in 2022, in a conversation with this portal, Kashvee Gautam spoke about her evolution post getting picked up for the  Women’s T20 challenge. Today the pace bowling allrounder has become a regular in India A colours. Gautam helped India A to a win in the opening fixture of the series against England A with a decisive spell.

Ever since Gautam took all ten wickets in a Under-19 50-over match back in February 2020, she has been applauded for her amazing skills with the ball. The right-arm seamer has also taken 12 wickets in seven games during the Senior Women's T20 Trophy with an economy rate of 4.14.

Jasia Akhter (Uttarakhand)

Jasia Akhter is a hard-hitting right-handed batter who currently plays for Uttarakhand. In 2017, she came into limelight for becoming the first woman from Jammu and Kashmir to make it to the National camp. Akhter also became the first from the region to get picked up for the WPL when she became the part of Delhi Capitals squad.

Akhter has a good set of records under her wing. She finished second in the 2022 Senior Women's T20 Trophy with 273 runs from seven matches at a batting average of 45.50 and a strike rate of 138.57. With her ability to hit big, she could find a place in the second edition as well.

Mannat Kashyap (Punjab)

Right after receiving her maiden call-up for the T20I squad against England, Mannat Kashyap has every chance to be at the WPL. Kashyap was a member of India's Under-19 World Cup winning side when they lifted the inaugural trophy earlier this year in South Africa. She picked up nine wickets from six matches during the tournament.

The Punjab left-arm spinner was also a member of the India A side that faced England A in Mumbai. She also represented India in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup this year.

Vrinda Dinesh (Karnataka)

Karnataka opener Vrinda Dinesh has been part of the India A squad in the same England A series in Mumbai. Although she didn’t have great numbers, Vrinda impressed people with her strokeplay.

Vrinda had a great domestic season and was instrumental for Karnataka’s qualification to the knockout stages of the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy. She scored 211 runs at an average of 35.17 and a strike rate of 154.01 during the tournament. She also featured in the Emerging Asia Cup and played a great knock in the final after coming into the squad as a replacement player.