Women's Premier League 2023, Gujarat Giants Women vs Mumbai Indians Women, 1st Match: Stats at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai

The first match will be played between Gujarat Giants Women vs Mumbai Indians Women at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai on March 4. However, the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is all set to begin on March 4, with five teams taking on each other for the title as well. Following the successful auction window, the drama will now unfold on the field, where the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz strive for glory.

The competition which will consist of 22 games over a three-week period features some of the biggest names in women’s cricket as well. Three players – Smriti Mandhana, Ash Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt – will earn fees in excess of $400,000 for their participation in the tournament as well. And, it will be interesting to know how they will perform.

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Meanwhile, Australia batter Beth Mooney was happy at being picked up by Gujarat Giants at the WPL auction. But she didn’t expect to be the captain and a call from former India captain Mithali Raj, Giants’ mentor left her surprised.

“When I got bid on in the auction, I was just happy to be a part of it and captaincy wasn’t something that was on my radar,” Mooney said on the eve of the WPL opener against Mumbai Indians at DY Patil Stadium. “Mithali gave me a phone call and said ‘we’d like you to do it [captaincy] and we’re happy if you want to. So just let us know’. After a couple of conversations with Rachael [Haynes, head coach] after that, we both thought that the time was right for me to challenge myself within cricket.”

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur said of the WPL during a virtual press conference on Thursday: “I think this is a great platform for all Indian players because we have been missing this tournament for a long time. Definitely, for Australia and England the WBBL and Hundred have worked very well and after those tournaments they’ve got so much young talent. After the WPL we are also going to get some good talent and I’m sure the difference you’re talking about [between India and Australia sides] we’d love to cut down. When you see good talent coming up, you’re definitely going to make a good team after the WPL.”

READ MORE: ‘I’m not going to be MS Dhoni as a captain’ – Faf du Plessis

Venue

STATS – T20