RCB, on the other hand, retained 14 players.
Ahead of the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL 2025) auction, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) named their list of released and retained players. The Bengaluru-based outfit has decided to retain 14 players while letting go of seven of them from their roster.
Amongst the seven players released by RCB include five Indians. Simran Bahadur, Shubha Sateesh and Disha Kasat were some of the local players who were let go by RCB.
However, on the expected lines, their core group have stayed the same, comprising the likes of Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Sophie Molineux and the Indian trio of skipper Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and Renuka Singh Thakur.
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What will be RCB’s auction strategy for WPL 2025?
After trading for Danni Wyatt-Hodge, RCB initially had eight overseas players, which exceeded the permitted limit of six. As a result, they released England captain Heather Knight and South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, who had joined as a replacement.
This leaves RCB with four spots to fill in the auction and a remaining budget of INR 3.25 crore. With all overseas slots now filled, RCB’s remaining picks will focus on Indian players.
Adding Wyatt-Hodge to the lineup may see T20 World Cup-winning captain Sophie Devine moving down to the middle order, a role she has played for the White Ferns. With Wyatt-Hodge, skipper Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and Devine at the top, RCB boasts a formidable batting lineup, strengthened further by Richa Ghosh and Sophie Molineux.
In the auction, RCB will likely prioritize local all-rounders and additional bowlers to bolster their squad, supporting players like Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, and Renuka, with their overseas all-rounders providing complementary skills.
List of retained players by RCB
Smriti Mandhana (c), Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Devine, Renuka Thakur, Asha Shobana, Shreyanka Patil, Ekta Bisht, S Meghana, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (traded), Kate Cross, Sophie Molineux, Kanika Ahuja
List of released players by RCB
Indrani Roy, Disha Kasat, Heather Knight, Nadine de Klerk, Shraddha Pokharkar, Shubha Satheesh, Simran Bahadur
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