Women's Premier League 2024 Auction: Top Players Who Can Be Surprise Picks

The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 auction, set to take place in Mumbai this Saturday, promises to be an intriguing affair with the five competing teams poised to enter a bidding war for the talents they need to mount a title charge. A total of 165 players - 104 Indians and 61 from overseas - will go under the hammer on December 9 and cricket fans around the world will be eager to see which players end up with which franchisee. While some of the big names at the auction like Deandra Dottin and Kim Garth are expected to spark bitter bidding wars, a few lesser-known players in the auction pool can also surprise everyone and land lucrative contracts.

Here are some players who could be surprise picks at the WPL 2024 auction:

Mannat Kashyap (India)

Available for a minimum base price of Rs 10 lakh, Mannat Kashyap, just 19, is expected to attract some serious attention at the upcoming auction. The Delhi girl was part of the Indian squad which won the Under-19 Women's World Cup in South Africa earlier this year and has already earned her maiden senior team call up as a member of the Indian squad for the ongoing T20 series against England.

An old school left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap picked up nine wickets in six games for India at the junior World Cup in South Africa and was India's second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament behind Parshavi Chopra. The fact that she is handy with the bat as well, will command a premium as well.

Devika Vaidya (India)

A full-fledged India international, Devika Vaidya's experience will be a big draw in the upcoming auction. The left-arm all rounder is a crafty spinner and has the ability to deliver with the bat as well. She was part of a bidding war during the inaugural WPL auction