“The contribution from the Indian players is something you can see that has really improved.” Marizanne Kapp speaks about the improvements in the 2nd edition of the Women’s Premier League.
We’re coming towards the end of the 2nd edition of the Women’s Premier League. The Delhi Capitals led by skipper Meg Lanning has once again made it to the final in the 2nd edition of the tournament, courtesy of their top-of-the-table finish in the league stages of the tournament with 12 points from eight games, earning them a direct spot in the final, much like the inaugural edition.
In the inaugural edition, we witnessed multiple international stars, set the stage on fire with their cricketing prowess on display. The likes of Meg Lanning (345 runs, average 49.28, in nine innings), Nat Sciver-Brunt (332 runs, average 66.4, in eight innings), Tahlia McGrath (302 runs, average 50.33 in eight innings), Hayley Matthews (271 runs, average 30.11, in ten innings), Sophie Devine (266 runs, average 33.25, in eight innings), Ellyse Perry (253 runs, average 42.16, in eight innings), Alyssa Healy (253 runs, average 31.62 in nine innings), etc. were some of the standout performers with the bat for their respective franchises, as far as the overseas stars are concerned. The Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (281 runs, average of 40.14, in nine innings) was the only Indian in the list of top five run scorers of the inaugural edition.
The overseas stars, the likes of Hayley Matthews (16 wickets, economy 5.94 in ten innings), Sophie Ecclestone (16 wickets, economy 6.61, in nine innings), Issy Wong (15 wickets, economy 6.46, in ten innings), and Amelia Kerr (15 wickets, economy 6.45, in ten innings) also formed a major part of the top wicket-taking charts of the inaugural edition. The Mumbai Indians left-arm spinner was the only Indian in the list of top five wicket-takers of the inaugural edition of the WPL.
However, in the 2nd edition of the tournament, we have witnessed many star Indian players and even the uncapped domestic talent that has stepped up and taken the responsibility to create an impact at different stages of the tournament for their respective franchises in the ongoing edition. The likes of Tanuja Kanwer, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Smriti Mandhana, Shabnam Shakil, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana etc. Tanuja Kanwer, the left-arm spinner from Gujarat Giants finished the season as the joint 2nd-highest wicket-taker of the season, with 10 wickets to her name, alongside the likes of Radha Yadav, Asha Sobhana, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Deepti Sharma.
“There have been quite a few domestic players that have had a big impact on games, with bat or ball. The contribution from the Indian players is something you can see that has really improved. It will just get better and better as the competition goes along.” Marizanne Kapp speaks about the increase in impactful contributions from the local players in the 2nd edition of the WPL. The 34-year-old South African all-rounder forms a vital cog of the Delhi Capitals pace attack.
She is currently the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 11 wickets to her name so far, at a strike rate of 13.09, an average of 14.18, and an impressive economy of 6.50 in six innings. She is joined by the Delhi Capitals left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, alongside another left-arm spinner from UP Warriorz Sophie Ecclestone with 11 wickets.
However, she feels fielding is one aspect that has deteriorated in the 2nd edition of the Women’s Premier League. We have witnessed a lot of catches being dropped and at times, the ground fielding hasn’t been great either. The sloppiness in the field has impacted the result of the game to a great extent costing the side some crucial points during the league stages of the tournament.
“I feel the fielding has probably gone down from last year. But it’s actually been more international players who have dropped catches, not so much the domestic players. Everyone is human. We all make mistakes and there will always be dropped catches. But yes, fielding can improve.” Marizanne Kapp speaks about the scope of improvement in the fielding standards going forward.
The experience of the South African veteran Marizanne Kapp will again play a vital role for the Delhi Capitals as they gear up for the final showdown of the season against the Royal Challengers Bangalore led by skipper Smriti Mandhana who stunned the defending champions, Mumbai Indians by five runs in the eliminator. A unique moment in cricketing history as far as the Indian franchise leagues are concerned, as the history is about to be scripted in the WPL 2024 final. Both the teams contesting for the WPL trophy, haven’t yet managed to get their hands on their maiden title, since the inception of the men’s franchise competition (IPL) in the year 2008.