Picking a released playing 11 ahead of WPL 2025 Auction ft. Sneh Rana, Issy Wong

With the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction approaching, the five franchises have announced their retentions, and some surprising releases have been made as well. While each franchise has held onto its core, some prominent players were let go, creating an interesting pool of talent for the upcoming auction.

Among the released players, several experienced internationals stand out. Notable names like Sneh Rana, Heather Knight, Poonam Yadav, and Lea Tahuhu are now available in the auction pool, making them potential targets for teams aiming to strengthen their squads.

With the retained and released players lists now out ahead of the WPL 2025 auction, let us pick the best possible released playing XI featuring some big names in women's cricket.

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Picking a released playing 11 ahead of WPL 2025 Auction

Openers - Shubha Satheesh and Priyanka Bala (wk)

Shubha Satheesh, a 25-year-old batter from Karnataka, recently made her Test debut for India and showed promise by building a solid 115-run partnership with Jemimah Rodriguez. Picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) last season, she was released without playing a game. Satheesh has strong potential as an opener and could be an asset for teams seeking a stable yet aggressive start at the top.

Priyanka Bala, a wicketkeeper-batter, was acquired by Mumbai Indians for INR 20 lakh in the inaugural WPL auction. Bala opened the innings once and handled wicketkeeping duties in Yastika Bhatia’s absence. Although she played only one game and scored 19 runs, her prior experience with Railways and Bengal in domestic cricket reflects her abilities with the bat.

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Middle-Order and All-rounders - Disha Kasat, Veda Krishnamurthy, Heather Knight (C), Kathryn Bryce, and Sneh Rana

Disha Kasat, a middle-order batter previously with RCB, couldn’t find her form in the WPL, scoring just 11 runs in five innings across 10 matches. Despite this, her domestic record shows she can be a game-changer; she has hit two fifties for India A in the Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy and notched a century for Vidarbha Women in Visakhapatnam. Kasat’s release adds an experienced and promising option for teams looking to boost their middle order.

Veda Krishnamurthy, another experienced middle-order batter, was released by Gujarat Giants after an underwhelming WPL season where she scored only 22 runs in four games. Veda, who has been out of the Indian team for some time, could add depth and experience to any side looking for a seasoned batter.

The England captain, Heather Knight, was picked up by RCB in the first season at her base price of INR 140 lakh. Knight scored 135 runs in eight matches during the 2023 season, with a high score of 34, and took four wickets. However, she missed the 2024 season due to national duty, prompting her release. Knight’s leadership skills and all-round capabilities make her a valuable pick.

Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce played all eight games for Gujarat Giants in the 2024 WPL, scoring 83 runs at an average of 20.75 and picking up four wickets with an economy of 8.66. Bryce, a dependable all-rounder, could bring stability and versatility to any franchise.

All-rounder Sneh Rana, who led Gujarat Giants in the inaugural season, was released after struggling with form. Rana has not played white-ball cricket for India since December 2023. In her 12 WPL games, she scored only 47 runs at an average of 6.71 and took six wickets with a 9.02 economy. Nevertheless, her experience as a captain and a spinner could be a strategic addition to a new team.

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Bowlers - Isabelle Wong, Lauren Bell, Lea Tahuhu, and Poonam Yadav

The English pacer Isabelle Wong was initially acquired by Mumbai Indians for INR 30 lakh and became one of the league’s top bowlers. In 12 games, she picked up 18 wickets at an impressive average of 14.44 and an economy of 6.75. Despite these excellent numbers, Wong was surprisingly released, making her one of the most attractive bowlers in the auction.

Lauren Bell, England’s fast bowler, was released by UP Warriorz after not featuring in a single game due to national commitments. Despite not playing in WPL, Bell’s international experience across all three formats positions her as a valuable pick for teams needing fast-bowling depth.

Lea Tahuhu, a New Zealand veteran, played just two games for Gujarat Giants in 2024, taking one wicket with a 7.60 economy. Although she was not a regular in her team, Tahuhu’s experience could bolster any side.

Delhi Capitals’ release of legspinner Poonam Yadav surprised many. A former mainstay of the Indian national team, Poonam did not get game time in WPL 2024. Despite her recent lack of appearances, her leg-spin could add much-needed variety to any team’s bowling attack.