Image Credit- BCCI
Due to injury, uncapped all-rounder Kashvee Gautam,
who the Gujarat Giants acquired for a record INR 2 crore, will not play in the
forthcoming Women Premier League (WPL) season. Sayali Satghare, an additional
uncapped all-rounder with a reserve price of INR 10 lakh, has been designated
as her successor.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) spin all-arounder from India, Kanika
Ahuja, was also sidelined due to injury; Shradda Pokharkar was chosen to take
her place. Left-arm seamer Pokharkar, who plays for Maharashtra, was signed for
a reserve price of INR 10 lakh. In December 2022, she bowled net for India at
the Twenty20 Internationals match against Australia.
The Giants are greatly harmed by Kashvee’s absence.
She took 12 wickets at an economy of 4.14 in seven games during her stellar run
at the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in November of last year. She went on to play
for India A in the home series against England A and was a member of the
winning Under-23 team for India at the ACC Emerging tournament in Hong Kong. At
the December WPL auction, she was the Indian that cost the most to purchase.
Ahuja participated in seven of the eight WPL games for
RCB last season, amassing 98 runs and claiming two wickets. She also shone in
the ACC Emerging tournament championship matchup against Bangladesh, putting on
a strong all-around display. In her place, Satghare took eight wickets at an
economy rate of 5.9 to help Mumbai win the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy.
On February 23, the WPL’s second season gets underway in Bengaluru.