WPL 2024: A Thrilling Review of Season 2 and its Unforgettable Moments
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 has wrapped up with a season that will be remembered for its excitement, competitiveness, and a growing fan base. The second edition of the tournament proved to be a bigger success than the inaugural season, offering more nail-biting finishes and an overwhelming crowd turnout at the venues. Matches were held in Bangalore and New Delhi, where fans packed the stadiums with passion and energy, making it clear that women’s cricket is gaining immense popularity in India. The BCCI can only be thrilled with these developments, as they continue to support and expand the WPL into a global spectacle. The final match alone drew 30,000 fans, an impressive feat for women’s cricket.
Also Read: Trucking Injuries Attorney Houston: Seeking Justice After an Accident
Let’s take a deeper dive into the journey of the five participating teams and their standout players who made WPL 2024 an unforgettable season.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Champions of WPL 2024
RCB had a rollercoaster of a season that saw them crowned the champions. Their campaign was anything but smooth, as they won only 4 out of their 8 league-stage matches. They even had a couple of close encounters, like the 2-run victory over UP Warriorz in their first game. For a while, it looked like RCB might not even make it to the playoffs, but timely results in their favor helped them push through.
Once they reached the playoffs, RCB turned into a different beast altogether. In the eliminator, they took on the powerful Mumbai Indians, choking their opponents in the final overs. Their journey to the title was completed with a victory in the final against Delhi Capitals, where Delhi’s batting collapse handed RCB the advantage. While some of their success came from opposition teams faltering under pressure, RCB’s spinners were outstanding throughout the tournament. Shreyanka Patil, in particular, emerged as a key player, claiming the purple cap with 13 wickets after a shaky start in the first three games. Asha Shobana and Sophie Molineux were also excellent, each taking 12 wickets, ensuring RCB had a strong bowling unit.
On the batting front, Smriti Mandhana led from the front, scoring 300 runs at a strike rate of 133. Richa Ghosh was also impressive, amassing 257 runs with a strike rate of 141, along with her 10 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. However, the standout performer for RCB was undoubtedly Ellyse Perry, who bagged the orange cap with 347 runs at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 126. She also contributed with the ball, taking 7 wickets. With both the orange cap (Perry) and the purple cap (Shreyanka) in their camp, RCB truly deserved their triumph.
Delhi Capitals (DC): The Perennial Runner-ups
For the second year in a row, Delhi Capitals fell just short of winning the title. Throughout the league stage, they were arguably the most consistent team, suffering only two losses, both by narrow margins. Led brilliantly by Meg Lanning, DC showcased a balanced side, with strong batting performances and an impressive bowling attack.
Delhi’s top-order batting was their strength, with Meg Lanning scoring 331 runs at a strike rate of 123. Shafali Verma was electrifying, smashing 309 runs at a rapid strike rate of 157, while Alice Capsey and Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with 230 and 235 runs, respectively. Despite their strong performances, the Capitals’ most unfortunate moment came in the final, where their batting collapsed, losing 10 wickets for just 49 runs after a flying start of 64/0 in 7 overs.
Also Read: Premier Houston Semi Truck Accident Attorney
Delhi’s bowling unit was also top-class. Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen picked up 11 wickets each, while Radha Yadav and Shikha Pandey supported them well, taking 10 and 9 wickets, respectively. Ultimately, it was a devastating batting collapse that denied them the title, but their consistent performances throughout the tournament made them one of the standout teams of WPL 2024.
Mumbai Indians (MI): Heartbreak in the Eliminator
Mumbai Indians, the defending champions from the inaugural season, started WPL 2024 on a high, winning their first game with a last-ball thriller against Delhi Capitals. For much of the tournament, it seemed they were on track to reach another final, but some mid-tournament stumbles cost them dearly.
One of the biggest disappointments for MI was the underwhelming performances of two of their key players from the previous season: Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews. Sciver managed just 172 runs at a strike rate of 119, while Matthews contributed 180 runs at 113. The lack of big runs from these two stars left Mumbai’s batting looking fragile, and aside from Amelia Kerr, the middle-order struggled.
Harmanpreet Kaur, however, was a shining light for Mumbai. She played one of the best innings of the tournament, scoring an unbeaten 95 against Gujarat, and ended the season with 268 runs at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 143. Amelia Kerr also made valuable contributions, with 215 runs at 130 and 7 wickets. Yastika Bhatia, with 204 runs and 7 dismissals, was another solid performer. Despite their efforts, MI’s inability to close out games in tight situations, particularly in the eliminator, saw them bow out just short of a second consecutive title.
UP Warriorz: Inconsistency Plagues Their Campaign
UP Warriorz had a tournament filled with ups and downs. Their inconsistency in both batting and bowling left them struggling to maintain momentum. Their Indian batting contingent, in particular, failed to deliver the big scores needed to keep them in contention for the title.
Even the overseas stars had a subdued tournament, with Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, and Chamari Athapaththu not living up to their high standards. Grace Harris did show glimpses of brilliance with 188 runs at a strike rate of 136, but the overall batting unit lacked firepower. Sophie Ecclestone, the top wicket-taker from last season, also had a relatively quiet tournament, claiming only 11 wickets.
The true hero for UP Warriorz was Deepti Sharma, who had an outstanding season. She was the backbone of the team, scoring 295 runs at an average of 98 and a strike rate of 137. With the ball, she claimed 10 wickets, earning herself the Player of the Tournament award. Deepti’s remarkable performance will no doubt give hope to Indian cricket fans, as she continues to evolve into a world-class all-rounder.
Gujarat Giants: Struggles Continue
Gujarat Giants entered WPL 2024 hoping to improve on their disappointing first season, but unfortunately, they couldn’t get things right. Despite having a reputed coaching staff and experienced players, the team struggled to find a winning combination.
Gujarat’s batting lineup lacked consistency, with their openers Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt taking time to find their rhythm. Ashleigh Gardner, their star player, had a subdued season, managing only 120 runs and 7 wickets. The team’s batting woes were compounded by the poor form of Sneh Rana and Meghna Singh.
However, there were some bright spots for Gujarat. Beth Mooney managed to score 285 runs at an average of 47 and a strike rate of 141, while Laura Wolvaardt contributed 167 runs. Tanuja Kanwar was the standout bowler, taking 10 wickets, and there were late sparks from Fulmali and Shabnam Shakil that provided hope for the future.
Conclusion: WPL 2024’s Rise in Popularity
WPL 2024 was a thrilling season, with tight matches, top-quality performances, and record-breaking crowds in the stadiums. Women’s cricket in India is clearly on the rise, and with more fans supporting the game, the future looks bright for the WPL. As the league continues to grow, we can expect even more excitement and competitiveness in the seasons to come.
