The WBBL Overseas Draft commenced on September 1, with all eight teams picking and retaining players ahead of the upcoming edition of the WBBL, which will kick off on October 27 and conclude with the final on December 1. Six Indian players were picked in the WBBL draft. In this article, we will look at the participation of Indian players in WBBL history over the years.
Indian Players in the WBBL
WBBL 2021/22 – 8 Players
The seventh edition of the WBBL saw the highest number of Indian players participating in Australia’s franchise cricket. A total of eight players were part of this edition. Current Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur represented the Melbourne Renegades, having previously played for the Sydney Thunder for three seasons consecutively. Smriti Mandhana played for the Sydney Thunder, which was her third team in her third WBBL season. Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues represented the Melbourne Renegades, delivering an impressive performance with over 333 runs in her maiden WBBL season. Indian spinner Radha Yadav played for the Sydney Sixers in her first stint in the WBBL. Deepti Sharma was one of the eight players in the seventh edition, representing the Sydney Thunder with an all-round performance of 211 runs with the bat and 13 wickets with the ball, marking her first season in the WBBL. Shafali Verma was the second Indian player to be part of the Sydney Sixers, alongside Radha Yadav, in the 2021/22 edition. Indian leg-spinner Poonam Yadav was part of the Brisbane Heat, which also marked her first season in the WBBL. Indian wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the seventh edition.
WBBL 2024/25 – 6 Players
Six Indian players will participate in the upcoming tenth edition of the WBBL. Deepti Sharma was the first to be picked by the Melbourne Stars in the first round. Jemimah Rodrigues was the second Indian selected in the first round and will represent the Brisbane Heat in the upcoming edition. Shikha Pandey will join the Brisbane Heat alongside Jemimah Rodrigues after being picked in the second round. Smriti Mandhana was the only Indian player to be pre-signed, with the Adelaide Strikers securing her in the WBBL draft. Yastika Bhatia and Dayalan Hemalatha were signed by the Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers, respectively, in the third round.
WBBL 2022/23 – 2 Players
Pooja Vastrakar and Jemimah Rodrigues were the two Indian players who participated in the eighth edition of the WBBL. Pooja Vastrakar, the pace-bowling all-rounder, represented the Brisbane Heat in her maiden WBBL season. Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues represented the Melbourne Stars, which was her second season in the WBBL.
WBBL 2016/17 – 2 Players
In the second edition of the WBBL, two Indian players participated, marking the first-ever season with Indian players. Current Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur represented the Sydney Thunder and had an exceptional season with 296 runs in 13 matches, averaging 59. Left-handed batter Smriti Mandhana played for the Brisbane Heat.
WBBL 2017/18 – 2 Players
Harmanpreet Kaur represented the Sydney Thunder in the third edition of the WBBL, marking her second consecutive season with the team. It was the maiden season for Veda Krishnamurthy, who represented the Hobart Hurricanes and became the third Indian player to be part of the WBBL, playing nine matches that season.
WBBL 2018/19 – 2 Players
The star Indian duo of Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana participated in the fourth edition of the WBBL. Harmanpreet Kaur played her third consecutive season with the Sydney Thunder, delivering a stunning performance of 310 runs in 13 matches. Indian opener Smriti Mandhana represented the Hobart Hurricanes and also scored over 300 runs in that edition.
WBBL 2023/24 – 1 Player
Harmanpreet Kaur was the only Indian player in the ninth edition of the WBBL. The Indian skipper represented the Melbourne Renegades in this edition, which was her best season, scoring over 400 runs in 13 matches.