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WBBL 2024 Draft: Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma shine in first-round picks
By SMCS - Sep 1, 2024 12:30 pm
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Six Indian players have been chosen in the first three rounds of the WBBL draft, including the pre-signed Smriti Mandhana. Star all-rounder Deepti Sharma and star India batter Jemimah Rodrigues were among the first-round picks. Deepti, who was the fourth pick of the day, was picked by Melbourne Stars while Jemimah was the seventh player to be there in the first round and she was chosen by Brisbane Heat.

Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma struck again

England opener Danni Wyatt was the first player selected in the draft, chosen by Hobart Hurricanes. Star England spinner Sophie Ecclestone went to Sydney Sixers while Adelaide Strikers picked Laura Wolvaardt. Sydney Thunder also selected Heather Knight and Deandra Dottin, who recently reversed her international retirement as well and was selected by Melbourne Renegades.

Meanwhile, Shikha Pandey who was the third Indian player to be selected in the draft, was signed by Brisbane Heat in the second round. Another Indian player Hemalatha Dayalan was the first pick in the third round of the draft as well, going to Perth Scorchers. On the other hand, Sydney Thunder got their pre-signed player Chamari Athapaththu in the round as well. Melbourne Stars also picked India wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia while Smriti Mandhana, pre-signed by Adelaide Strikers, was picked in this round as well.

Players pick in the WBBL 2024 draft

First-round picks in the WBBL draft: Deepti Sharma – Melbourne Stars, Jemimah Rodrigues – Brisbane Heat, Danielle Wyatt – Hobart Hurricanes, Sophie Ecclestone – Sydney Sixers (Retention), Heather Knight – Sydney Thunder (Retention), Laura Wolvaardt – Adelaide Strikers (Retention), Deandra Dottin – Melbourne Renegades, Sophie Devine – Perth Scorchers (pre-signed player)

Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana

Second-round picks: Chloe Tryon – Hobart Hurricanes, Amelia Kerr – Sydney Sixers, Hayley Matthews – Melbourne Renegades, Marizanne Kapp – Melbourne Stars, Shabnim Ismail – Sydney Thunder, Passed – Adelaide Strikers, Shikha Pandey – Brisbane Heat, Amy Jones – Perth Scorchers (Retention)

Third-round picks: Hemalatha Dayalan – Perth Scorchers, Passed – Brisbane Heat, Alice Capsey – Melbourne Renegades, Chamari Athapaththu – Sydney Thunder (pre-signed player), Yastika Bhatia – Melbourne Stars, Smriti Mandhana – Adelaide Strikers (pre-signed player), Passed – Sydney Sixers, Lizelle Lee – Hobart Hurricanes (pre-signed player)

Fourth-round picks: Passed – Hobart Hurricanes, Hollie Armitage – Sydney Sixers, Orla Prendergast – Adelaide Strikers, Passed – Melbourne Stars, Georgia Adams – Sydney Thunder, Passed – Melbourne Renegades, Nadine de Klerk – Brisbane Heat, Passed – Perth Scorchers

The 2024 WBBL season starts on October 27 when Adelaide Strikers host Brisbane Heat. As many as 43 games will take place in the tournament, including the final on December 1.