In a historic moment at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 auction, uncapped all-rounder Kashvi Gautam became the talk of the cricketing town as Gujarat Giants placed a staggering bid of Rs 2 crore, setting a new record for the most expensive uncapped Indian player.
Gautam’s cricketing journey started at the age of 14, and she catapulted into the spotlight by claiming all ten wickets in an under-19 ODI in February 2020. The fierce bidding war between UP Warriors and Gujarat Giants ultimately saw the latter securing Kashvi with the groundbreaking bid of 2 crores. Her consistent performances in domestic tournaments, including a stellar show in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, where she bagged 12 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.14, made her a sought-after player in the auction.
The 22-year-old fast bowler-bowling all-rounder, Kashvi Gautam, who considers Bhuvneshwar Kumar her idol, has already made waves by being part of India A and the Under-23 squad for the Asian Emerging Tournament in Hong Kong.
In a surprising turn of events, Brinda Dinesh, a 22-year-old batsman, clinched the third spot in the list of millionaire players. UP Warriors secured her services for a hefty Rs 1.30 crore, despite her initial price being a modest Rs 10 lakh. Brinda, known for her power-hitting prowess, had undergone tests with all five franchises in August. She emerged as the fifth highest run-scorer in the senior women’s ODI tournament earlier this year, propelling Karnataka to the finals.
While the eye-watering bids highlight the growing popularity of women’s cricket, the focus should extend beyond big-ticket signings to ensure a more balanced and inclusive growth of the sport.
