The world's top women's cricketers had a lot of reasons to celebrate this weekend as the Women's Premier League auction in India saw many of them land lucrative deals for the T20 tournament.
Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland was among the most sought-after players, eventually getting snapped up by Delhi Capitals for 20 million Indian rupees ($239,000).
Two uncapped Indian players were also in high demand. Seam bowling all-rounder Kashvee Gautam and Vrinda Dinesh attracted top bids. Gautam went to Gujarat Titans for 20 million rupees, while UP Warriorz landed batter Dinesh for 13 million rupees.
A total of 165 players entered the auction for what has become one of the most lucrative women's sports league's in the world.
The Indian cricket board earned a staggering $572.5 million from the bids to own five teams in the WPL, while broadcast rights for the tournament went for $116.7 million.
Top 20 highest-paid cricketers of WPL 2024
1. Smriti Mandhana (Bangalore): 34 million rupees ($407,000)
2. Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat): 32 million rupees ($383,000)
3. Natalie Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai): 32 million rupees ($383,000)
4. Deepti Sharma (UP): 26 million rupees ($311,000)
5. Jemimah Rodrigues (Delhi): 22 million rupees ($263,000)
6. Beth Mooney (Gujarat): 20 million rupees ($239,000)
7. Shafali Verma (Delhi): 20 million rupees ($239,000)
8. Annabel Sutherland (Delhi): 20 million rupees ($239,000)
9. Kashvee Gautam (Gujarat): 20 million rupees ($239,000)
10. Pooja Vastrakar (Mumbai): 19 million rupees ($227,000)
11. Richa Ghosh (Bangalore): 19m rupees ($227,000)
12. Sophie Ecclestone (UP): 18 million rupees ($215,000)
13. Harmanpreet Kaur (Mumbai): 18 million rupees ($215,000)
14. Ellyse Perry (Bangalore): 17 million rupees ($203,000)
15. Renuka Singh (Bangalore): 15 million rupees ($180,000)
16. Yastika Bhatia (Mumbai): 15 million rupees ($180,000)
17. Marizanne Kapp (Delhi): 15 million rupees ($180,000)
18. Tahlia McGrath (UP): 14 million rupees ($167,000)
19. Vrinda Dinesh (UP): 13 million rupees ($155,000)
20. Shabnim Ismail (Mumbai): 12 million rupees ($143,000)
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Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur receives the WPL trophy from BCCI president Roger Binny, right, and secretary Jay Shah at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. AFP -
Mumbai Indians with the WPL trophy after their win over Delhi Capitals in the final on Sunday, March 26, 2023. AFP -
Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Capitals by seven wickets in the final to win the WPL title. Getty -
Mumbai Indians' Nat Sciver-Brunt, left, and Amelia Kerr guided their team to victory. AFP -
Mumbai Indians' Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a match-winning 60. Reuters -
Mumbai captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 37 in the final. Getty -
Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur, left, Amelia Kerr, centre, and Hayley Matthews celebrates the dismissal of Delhi Capitals' Arundhati Reddy. AP -
Amelia Kerr of Mumbai Indians picked up two wickets. Getty
