Indian players dominate early rounds in WBBL 2024 draft but Harmanpreet Kaur snubbed

The countdown for the Women’s Big Bash League 2024 (WBBL 2024) has already begun with the player draft on Sunday, September 1, in Melbourne. A total of six India women players were snapped up in the first three rounds of the WBBL 2024 draft, highlighting the growing influence of Indian talent in global cricket. However, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur didn't find any takers.

Smriti Mandhana, who was pre-signed by the Adelaide Strikers, led the charge, with Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues being top picks in the first round. The Indian all-rounder Deepti was the fourth overall pick, joining the Melbourne Stars, while the young batting sensation Rodrigues, the seventh player picked, was snapped up by the Brisbane Heat.

Smriti Mandhana leads the Indian contingent in WBBL 2024 Draft

The WBBL 2024 player draft kicked off with England star Danni Wyatt being the first player picked by the Hobart Hurricanes. England’s premier spinner Sophie Ecclestone was signed by the Sydney Sixers, while the Adelaide Strikers secured Laura Wolvaardt, and the Sydney Thunder picked Heather Knight.

In a notable comeback, Deandra Dottin, who recently reversed her international retirement, was signed up by the Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming women’s competition in Australia. Shikha Pandey was the third Indian to be picked, joining Brisbane Heat in the second round.

Meanwhile, Perth Scorchers retained Amy Jones, while Adelaide Strikers opted to pass in this round. Hemalatha Dayalan made headlines as the first pick in the third round, going to the Perth Scorchers. The round also saw the Melbourne Stars secure Yastika Bhatia, India’s wicketkeeper.

Smriti Mandhana, who was already pre-signed by the Adelaide Strikers, was also officially picked by the club in this round. As the draft progressed, four teams—the Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades, and Perth Scorchers—opted to pass in the fourth round.

WBBL 2024 will get underway on October 27

However, Adelaide Strikers signed Ireland's Orla Prendergast, and Brisbane Heat secured Nadine de Klerk as the last player in the draft. Notably, the WBBL 2024 will get underway on October 27, with 43 matches leading up to the final on December 1.

Speaking about the salary, at the top, the Platinum tier offers the highest pay, with players earning up to $110,000 Australian dollars, depending on their availability in the WBBL. The gold band offers $90,000, while the silver tier provides $65,000. At the end, the Bronze category allows players to earn up to $40,000.

Player picked in the first round of the WBBL draft:

Deepti Sharma (Melbourne Stars), Jemimah Rodrigues (Brisbane Heat), Heather Knight (Sydney Thunder, retained), Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers, retained), Danielle Wyatt (Hobart Hurricanes), Sophie Ecclestone (Sydney Sixers, retained), Deandra Dottin (Melbourne Renegades), and Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers, pre-signed player).

Player picked in the second round of the WBBL draft:

Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers), Chloe Tryon (Hobart Hurricanes), Shikha Pandey (Brisbane Heat), Amy Jones (Perth Scorchers, Retained), Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades), Marizanne Kapp (Melbourne Stars), Shabnim Ismail (Sydney Thunder), and Passed—Adelaide Strikers.

Player picked in the third-round of the WBBL draft:

Hemalatha Dayalan (Perth Scorchers), passed - Brisbane Heat, Yastika Bhatia (Melbourne Stars), Smriti Mandhana (Adelaide Strikers, pre-signed player), Alice Capsey (Melbourne Renegades), Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder, pre-signed player), passed - Sydney Sixers, Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes, pre-signed player).

Player picked in the fourth round of the WBBL draft:

Passed: Hobart Hurricanes, Hollie Armitage (Sydney Sixers), Orla Prendergast (Adelaide Strikers), Passed: Melbourne Stars, Georgia Adams (Sydney Thunder), Melbourne Renegades, Nadine de Klerk (Brisbane Heat), Perth Scorchers.