WPL 2025: Uncapped Players Who Can Make A Mark

The third edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL) is upon us already, starting in a day’s time, and yet again, after the fanfare around the stars is done, the focus would be on the upcoming domestic talents in the season. 

All teams have retained the majority of their players heading into the WPL 2025 auction, and hence, had limited slots to fill. As a result, only a few standout domestic talents could have been signed — a phenomenon we have been observing right from the first season itself. 

Among the newly signed talents, these five players have done a terrific job so far in the domestic competitions, thus having a spotlight heading into WPL 2025.

NANDINI KASHYAP (DC)

Nandini Kashyap is going into her first WPL on the back of two terrific tournament performances - the Senior Women's T20 and Challengers Trophy. The runs she scored in these two competitions resulted in her getting her first call-up to the Indian side during the three-match WT20I series against West Indies and getting signed by the Delhi Capitals franchise for 10 lakhs in the WPL 2025 Auction. 

Representing Uttarakhand in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, she scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 125 and average of 41.2 finished as the third highest run scorer in the tournament. In the T20 Challengers Trophy, she was the highest run scorer as she smashed 332 runs in five innings with four fifties, striking at 137.

Also read - Nandini Kashyap interview 

NIKI PRASAD (DC)

Niki Prasad has been the talk of the town in Women's cricket in the last couple of months as she has been named the captain of the U-19 side for the second edition of the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup starting on 18th January 2025.

She has been a decent batter at #3 and #4, scoring 162 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 126 in the Women's U19 T20 Challenger in October 2024 before the WPL Auction. A great U19 World Cup 2025 as both batter and as captain might result in Niki Prasad making it to the playing XI of the highly talented Delhi Capitals franchise.

Also read - Niki Prasad Interview

KAMALINI G (MI)

G Kamalini was the name that made a big noise in the WPL 2025 auction as Mumbai Indians signed the 16-year-old Tamil Nadu batter for a whopping INR 1.6 crores.

Kamalini is considered to have the pedigree to become a big-time batter in the future of women's cricket as she has been trained at the critically acclaimed Junior Super Kings program. The left-hand opening batter has had a great domestic season in 2024, scoring 581 runs in 13 games, smashing four fifties and a hundred at a strike rate of 125. She was a key feature for the Indian team in the ICC Women's U19 World Cup, and took India home with an unbeaten half century in the semifinal against England. 

AKSHITA MAHESHWARI (MI)

Akshita Maheshwari is one of the most talented pacers in domestic cricket. The Rajasthan pacer will be making her first WPL appearance after getting signed by the Mumbai Indians. There, she will learn under the guidance of their mentor, Jhulan Goswami, and the leader of the bowling attack, Shabnim Ismail.

She had her breakout performance in the Women's Under 23 One Day Trophy, where she was the second-highest wicket-taker, taking 23 wickets in eight games. She became the first Indian to take two hattricks, taking three consecutive wickets against Odisha and Mizoram. She took three 4+ wicket hauls in the eight games.

Also read - Akshita Maheshwari Interview 

VRINDA DINESH (UPW)

Vrinda had to leave the 2024 season in the middle due to an unfortunate injury, however the fact that the UP Warriorz had enough faith in her even back then is a testament to the talent of this young batter from Karnataka. 

Vrinda has grown in strength since last season as a batter, and the improved performances in the Senior Women’s T20 and ODI Trophies along with the Challengers at a higher strike rate indicate that the batter’s growth is happening in the right direction. Her 71* off 65 in the finals of the ODI Challengers Trophy also led her team to the trophy.

With Alyssa Healy missing the season due to an injury, Vrinda might have chance to open the innings for the Warriorz along with Uma Chetry. If she manages to play some quick fire innings at the top like the ones she recently played in the domestic season, she would make some rapid strides towards her India dream.