Mumbai Indians Face Key Decisions Ahead of WPL Auction

Mumbai Indians Prepare for WPL Auction

As the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction draws near, attention is turning to the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the critical choices they must make regarding player retention. Insights from former captain of the Indian women's team, Mithali Raj, and ex-India cricketer Saba Karim shed light on how the defending champions might construct their roster for the upcoming season.

Mithali Raj highlighted the challenges MI faces with their overseas all-rounders, stating, “The Mumbai Indians have tough decisions with their overseas all-rounders. Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, and Hayley Matthews are all match-winners,” during her discussion on JioHotstar.

She also praised the strength of the Indian core, emphasizing the importance of captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur. “Among Indian players, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur are solid options. But I was particularly impressed by uncapped player Gunalan Kamalini, who showed exciting power-hitting potential in her last appearance this season,” she remarked.

On the other hand, Saba Karim, a former wicketkeeper and JioStar expert, stressed the need for the Mumbai franchise to maintain consistency in their retention strategy. “Mumbai Indians have a strong squad; they should maximise their retention slots,” he noted on JioHotstar.

Karim believes that Harmanpreet Kaur is a must-retain player, while Yastika Bhatia brings depth and versatility to the top order. “Captain Harmanpreet Kaur is an automatic pick, and Yastika Bhatia adds great value as a top-order keeper-batter. Among overseas players, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Chloe Tryon offer crucial all-round skills. For the uncapped slot, young left-hander Gunalan Kamalini deserves continued investment after MI backed her last season,” he concluded.