The strategic mind of captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a pivotal role in shaping the Mumbai Indians squad during the recent Women's Premier League (WPL) auction, according to the franchise's bowling coach and mentor, the legendary Jhulan Goswami. Her insights were instrumental in securing star players like the dynamic all-rounder Amelia Kerr and the express pacer Shabnim Ismail.
Captain's Vision Drives Auction Success
In an exclusive conversation with JioHostar, Goswami emphasized the indispensable role of the skipper in the auction planning process. "As captain, Harman's inputs are always crucial during auction planning. At the end of the day, she leads this team and has been incredibly successful," stated Goswami. The most successful WPL team, having clinched the title twice since the league's inception in 2023, heavily relied on this collaborative approach.
Goswami elaborated that having Kaur at the auction table provided a significant advantage. "Her inputs have been the most important part of the entire auction process. Our job is to support her on and off the field. Having her at the auction table was a huge advantage, her thoughts mattered deeply, and they helped us retain the core of this team," she added. The core strategy was straightforward: maintain the winning support group that has delivered two championships in three years.
Strategic Acquisitions: Kerr and Ismail
Breaking down the key purchases, the former India pace spearhead highlighted the value brought by New Zealand's Amelia Kerr. "Amelia Kerr was a great buy. She gives us so much, variation, volume and balance. Over the last three years, she has performed exceptionally well in the tournament, and as an all-rounder, she is very important," Goswami explained.
An even more pleasant surprise was the acquisition of South African speedster Shabnim Ismail at a bargain price. "Shabnim Ismail was another excellent buy. We didn't expect to get Shabnim at such a low price. So, from a budget perspective, our planning worked well. It was a pleasant surprise because we thought she would go for a much higher amount," she revealed, indicating a masterstroke in financial planning.
UP Warriorz's 'Steal' Deals: Deepti and Ecclestone
Meanwhile, UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar shed light on his team's successful auction, which saw them bag Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma and English spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Deepti, fresh from a Player of the Tournament performance in India's recent ODI World Cup triumph, was always a top target.
"Deepti was always a priority. It's a steal you don't often see in Indian cricket. We're always happy to have her back," Nayar said, expressing delight at securing her. He considered the deal a major coup, especially after their first retention at ₹3.5 crore.
The most satisfying bid, however, was for world-class left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone. "Sophie Ecclestone was a surprise for us. She's a marquee player... I had kept ₹1.8 crore in mind, so getting her at ₹85 lakh was a big surprise. I believe the timing worked in our favour," Nayar stated. He acknowledged missing out on Amelia Kerr but expressed satisfaction at signing most of their planned targets, with Sree Charani being a last-minute tactical choice.
Overall, the auction narratives from both camps highlight a growing sophistication in team building for the WPL, with captaincy insight and strategic budgeting becoming as important as identifying player talent.
