WPL 2024 Auction: Delhi Capitals strengthen squad with exciting additions

The JSW-GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals made exciting additions to strengthen their squad at the TATA WPL 2024 Auction in Mumbai on Saturday. With three slots to fill, the runners-up of the inaugural edition bagged the Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland (INR 2 crore), along with the Indian uncapped duo of Aparna Mondal (INR 10 lakh) and Ashwani Kumari (INR 10 lakh).

The franchise acquired the services of Annabel Sutherland for INR 2 crore, which was the joint biggest buy of the WPL 2024 Auction. The 22-year-old, who was part of Gujarat Giants in the inaugural WPL edition, picked up three wickets in four matches. She is coming off an impressive WBBL campaign, where she picked up as many as 23 wickets and scored 288 runs in 14 matches for the Melbourne Stars Women. She was part of Australia's 2023 ICC T20 World Cup-winning squad and has thus far played 22 T20Is and picked up 10 wickets.

Sharing his thoughts on acquiring Sutherland, Delhi Capitals Head Coach Jonathan Batty stated, "She was our number one target all the way through. We identified her multiple skill sets- she is an outstanding batter, one of the leading wicket-takers in the WBBL recently, and was the best all-rounder in the competition last year. She has got leadership qualities as well and is a gun fielder. We are very happy we have got her."

Wicketkeeper-batter Aparna Mondal, who was part of Delhi Capitals' squad last season, was reacquired for INR 10 lakh, while Ashwani Kumari became the last buy of the WPL 2024 auction, purchased at INR 10 lakh. The 26-year-old all-rounder from Jharkhand was part of Gujarat Giants in the previous season. She scored 153 runs at a strike rate of 120.47 in seven matches of the recently held Senior Women's T20 Trophy. She also featured for East Zone at the Senior Women's Inter Zonal T20 Trophy, scoring 103 runs in five matches, including a quickfire 52 off 25 balls.

Speaking about the exciting additions to the squad, Delhi Capitals' Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly, said, "The staff wanted Sutherland, Aparna and Ashwani, that's what we discussed at the auction, and we got them. The squad has been good since last year, so it's an addition. Hopefully, we play well as we did last year."

Ganguly further added, "We are a good side and it's the continuity of players who have performed well. Our Indian players are really good, and some of them who were part of us last year have now gone up a step higher to be in the national team, so that's also an additional advantage."

Delhi Capitals full squad for WPL 2024

Overseas Players: Meg Lanning (C), Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp, Alice Capsey, Laura Harris and Annabel Sutherland

Indian Players: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Taniyaa Bhatia, Minnu Mani, Sneha Deepthi, Titas Sadhu, Aparna Mondal, Ashwani Kumari