The Delhi team had a slow start to the Women’s T20 League auction as they had no player with them in the first round. However, things quickly changed as they purchased three back-to-back players in the second round. One of the biggest buys for the team was Shafali Verma.
Shafali Verma, India’s U-19 women’s world cup-winning captain, was signed by Delhi for a reported 2 crore rupees. Following her performance in the inaugural age category world cup in South Africa, the 19-year-old player was expected to fetch a high price.
The team had to wait before making their first auction purchase, but once they did, they made up for lost bids by adding Indian star Jemimah Rodriguez and Australian captain Meg Lanning along with Shafali. The Delhi team has been clearly targeting young players just like they have done for their Men’s team.
In the meantime, Shafali recently guided the Indian Women’s U-19 team to a 20-20 World Cup win. With this, she became the only women’s Indian captain with an Apex Cricket Council trophy in her kitty. She is currently with the senior Indian team in South Africa for the Women’s 20-20 World Cup.
Smriti Mandhana, the Indian vice-captain, on the other hand, was one of the names that everyone expected to go big in the auction. As expected, she went for a high price, with the Bangalore team paying 3.4 crores for her. She was the first name to be auctioned off at the event, and she has been the costliest player at the auction so far.
Bids for Mandhana came in from both Mumbai and Bangalore. Despite the fact that Mumbai team owner Neeta Ambani was very interested in Mandhana’s services, Bangalore won the bidding war. The Mumbai team, on the other hand, paid 1.8 crores for Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Shafali Verma
— Swati(she/her) (@Swati_______) February 13, 2023
How the scenarios changes in no time???
— Rahul gupta?? (@Grahul301099) February 13, 2023
We are winning the trophy.
— Prayag 3108 (@3108Prayag) February 13, 2023
Delhi and U19 cricket story continues
— Ganesh (@GaneshNagnurwar) February 13, 2023
I predicted this way back when Shafali won the world cup
— Sourish Joshi (@sourish_03) February 13, 2023
Jemimah Rodrigues and Shefali Verma. Building a young team, amazing!
— Ajay Abraham (@ajabraham92) February 13, 2023
Adding another U-19 World Cup winning skipper to our ranks ?
WELCOME SHAFALI VERMA ?#YehHaiNayiDilli #WPL #WPLAuction
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 13, 2023
Current players #WPLAuction–
RCB: Smriti, Devine, Perry, Renuka Thakur
MI: Harmanpreet K, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr
Gujarat Giants: Gardner, Mooney, Dunkley
UP Warriorz: Ecclestone, D Sharma, T McGrath, Ismail
DC: J Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma.#WomensIPL #WPL2023— TATA IPL (@TATA_IPL) February 13, 2023
And also no 17 rishab and shafali Verma in delhi
— joshi talks (@TalksJoshi) February 13, 2023
Yas!!!! Aag lagadi ?. Now buy Shweta Sehrawat and we're set for opening pair
— Retweet Waala (@RetweetWaala) February 13, 2023
