‘Catch Them Young’ Was The Mantra Of WPL 2027 Auction, Says BCCI President Manhas
RCB Women vs DC Women – WPL 2026 Final - Image Source: IANS
BCCI President Mithun Manhas: BCCI President Mithun Manhas said on Thursday that the signing of two teenagers, Uma Kashvi and Samaira Raghav in the 2027 Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction reflected a ‘catch them young’ approach.
Delhi Capitals signed uncapped all-rounder Kashvi, who plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket, for Rs 10 lakh at the auction in Kochi on Wednesday, making her the youngest player to be picked for playing in the competition.
Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants picked up 16-year-old all-rounder Samaira Raghav, who features for Delhi in the domestic cricket circuit, for the same amount. The 2027 WPL season will be played from January 14 to February 7.
“Well, it’s heartening to see. The WPL has come a long way since its inception in 2023, and the icing on the cake was the 15-year-old Uma (Kashvi) getting picked. I think it’s a record-breaking thing for WPL and fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“Then there’s another girl who’s just 16 (Samaira Raghav) who got picked as well. So I think the mantra for this auction was to catch them young,” Manhas said in a video posted on the WPL’s social media handles.
Around 150 players were in the auction pool, and Manhas said the players vying for the limited number of slots showed how competitive women’s cricket had become in the country since the WPL started.
“You see, there is a high level of competition as well now. We had a pool of about 150-odd players, and we just had 27 slots. So that shows how competitive it has become, and I guess from here on, it’s a matter of time. I hope the players continue to grow, learn and evolve from such competitions and that will help Indian cricket grow in the long run.”
Around 150 players were in the auction pool, and Manhas said the players vying for the limited number of slots showed how competitive women’s cricket had become in the country since the WPL started.
Also Read: Special Cricket Stories
Article Source: IANS