The state of Madhya Pradesh is all set to turn the pages of history as aspiring and professional women cricketers from across the state gear up to step onto the massive stage and hog the limelight through its flagship T20 tournament — the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL).
The brand-new women’s edition will feature three teams, namely, Bhopal Wolves, Bundelkhand Bulls, and Chambal Chariyals. This advancing step marks a major leap forward for women’s cricket in the state, offering a professional platform for local talent to showcase their skills and inspire the next generation. The inaugural season promises thrilling action and new heroes as the MPL embraces a new era of inclusivity and growth.
The players draft, conducted on April 27, marked a seminal occasion with the introduction of women’s team selections for the very first time. The respective boasts a vibrant and diverse pool of rising female stars, including Vaishnavi Sharma, Ayushi Shukla, Anadi Tagde, Shuchi Upadhyay, Sanskruti Gupta, Kranti Goud, and many others who have made the state proud with their remarkable talent at national and international levels.
Among the various prized franchise-based leagues around the globe, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has quickly established itself as a ground-breaking tournament for young talent while providing a platform for established players to shine. Among the notable names is Kranti Goud, a right-arm medium-fast bowler.
Representing the UP Warriorz in the third season of the WPL, Goud featured in eight matches, making a significant impact. Her standout performance came against the Delhi Capitals, where she delivered a match-winning spell of 4 for 25, underlining her ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Goud would be itching to make an impact for Bhopal Waves as well in the respective tournament.
Sanskriti Gupta, a right-arm off-break bowler, showcased her skills for the Mumbai Indians across ten matches. While she managed four wickets during the season, Gupta has been a consistent performer at the domestic level, turning out regularly for Madhya Pradesh and strengthening her reputation as a dependable spinner for Bhopal Waves as well. Notable talents like Jiya Ethwa and Kalyani Jadhav are also part of the team.
Bhopal Waves
Sanskriti Gupta, Nikita Singh, Kranti Goud, Kalyani Jadhav, Priyanka Koushal, Kanishka Thakur, Naini Rajput, Jiya Ethwa, Hanshikha Kirar, Mahi Thakur, Suhani Sharma, Muskan Mishra, Vanshika Prajapati, Aniksha Choudhary, Nitya Tiwari
The Under-19 Women’s World Cup further highlighted the next generation of stars. Vaishnavi Sharma emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest revelations, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with a staggering 17 wickets from six innings at a phenomenal average of 4.35. Right behind her was Aayshi Shukla, who claimed 14 wickets in seven innings at an impressive average of 5.71, solidifying her place among the most promising bowlers of her age group. Ananya Dubey, Anushka Sharma, and Reena Yadav, regulars in the state XI, will be looking to make a strong impact, all representing the Bundelkhand Bulls.
Bundelkhand Bulls
Anushka Sharma, Vaishnavi Sharma, Aayushi Shukla, Rahila Firdous, Ananya Dubey, Khyati Shukla, Yamini Billore, Soniya Singh, Reena Yadav, Tamanna Choudhary, Muskan Yogi, Muskan Biswas, Dipti Singh, Honey Yadav, Anshula Rao
Adding to this impressive list is Soumya Tiwari, who made significant contributions during the Asian Cricket Council Women’s Emerging Teams Cup 2023. Her performances played a crucial role in India’s campaign, further cementing her status as one of the key emerging players to watch. Part of Chambal Chariyals, Soumya is surrounded by several dependable players, including veteran Jincy George and exciting up-and-coming talents like Anaadi Tagde and Shuchi Upadhyay, among others.
Chambal Chariyals
Soumya Tiwari, Shuchi Upadhyay, Jincy George, Vaishnavi Vyas, Anaadi Tadge, Dhani Bhuchade, Aashna Patidar, Shreya Dixit, Sanjana Awase, Rishika Jain, Aditi Panwar, Naivedhya Chouhan, Saloni Duboliya, Payal Balmik, Rishita Parihar
Over the past numerable years, Madhya Pradesh women’s teams have consistently triumphed, reaching the semi-finals and finals in several BCCI-organized national tournaments. Adding another exciting layer to the tournament, franchises have actively organized talent hunts across the state, unearthing promising players from various cities. These young local talents will feature in every squad, strengthening MPL’s vision of fostering grassroots development and securing a bright future for cricket in Madhya Pradesh.
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