HomeCricket NewsWIPL 2023: Mithali Raj Set to Join Gujarat Giants As Mentor

WIPL 2023: Mithali Raj Set to Join Gujarat Giants As Mentor

WIPL 2023: Mithali Raj Set to Join Gujarat Giants as Mentor for Women’s Premier League

Mithali has featured in 89 T20Is for the country and accumulated 2,364 runs at a healthy average of 37.52. She last played a T20I game for India back in 2019 against England at home. She continued to play ODI and Tests before announcing retirement in June 2022.

Legendary Indian cricketer Mithali Raj has chosen to go ahead with the first deal of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Mithali Raj will be featuring in the inaugural edition of the T20 league, however, not as a player. As per reports, Mithali has signed on to be the mentor of the Adani Sports line-owned Gujarat Giants franchise.

As per Reports, Mithali Raj had shown interest in playing for the Mumbai-based team, however, things didn’t quite work out and the 40-year-old chose to go ahead for the role of a mentor with the Ahmedabad-based franchise, a more lucrative position and deal.

“Mithali Raj was keen to play but there was lack of interest from the teams. She will now be turning up for the Gujarat team as the mentor,”

Mithali has featured in 89 T20Is for the country and accumulated 2,364 runs at a healthy average of 37.52. She last played a T20I game for India back in 2019 against England at home. She continued to play ODI and Tests before announcing retirement in June 2022. Mithali has been the face of India women’s cricket for decades now and her participation in the Women’s Premier League will only boost the brand value and connect with the masses.

The Right-Hander kept her WPL options open after announcing retirement and has finally found home in one of the five teams for the inaugural edition.

The Adani Group bought the Ahmedabad franchise with the bid of Rs 1,289 crores. The highest at the auction held by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday.

The Gujarat Giants cricket franchise joins Adani Sports line’s family of teams like the Gulf Giants in the DP World ILT20 and the Gujarat Giants in the Pro Kabaddi League.

The five successful bidders for the inaugural season of WPL

  • Adani Sports line Pvt Ltd (Ahmedabad)
  • India win Sports Pvt Ltd (Mumbai)
  • Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd (Bangalore),
  • JSW GMR Cricket Pvt Ltd (Delhi)
  • Capri Global Holdings Pvt Ltd. (Lucknow).

A ‘Historic day’ for the Domestic Tournament:

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah termed January 25, 2023 as a “historic day” in cricket as bids for the Women’s Premier League broke the records of inaugural men’s IPL back in 2008.

“Today is a historic day in cricket as the bidding for teams of inaugural WPL Women’s Indian Premier League broke the records of the inaugural Men’s IPL in 2008! Congratulations to the winners as we garnered Rs.4669.99 Cr in total bid,” Shah tweeted.

He added, “This marks the beginning of a revolution in women’s cricket and paves the way for a transformative journey ahead not only for our women cricketers but for the entire sports fraternity. The WPL would bring necessary reforms in women’s cricket and would ensure an all-encompassing ecosystem that benefits each and every stakeholder.”

Earlier this month, Viacom 18 Media Private Limited won the consolidated bid for media rights (TV + Digital) for the WPL from 2023 to 2027. The media group won the rights with a bid of Rs 951 crore. The auction for the WPL is likely to be held in the month of February and the tournament is set to start in the first week of March this year.

 

Akash Kumar
Akash Kumar
Hi! I am Akash, a professionally trained journalist who graduated from Delhi University. I have spent several years playing cricket at the State level for Jharkhand. My passion for cricket and thrive to explore truth via journalism helped me to develop a character called – Sports Journalist. My contribution towards writing would be always out of the true spirit that longs for the game that Indians like the most.

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

Points Table

Womens T20 2024 Group A
Womens T20 2024 Group B
CPL 2024
TeamsMWLTN/RPTNRR
Australia2200042.524
India3210040.576
Pakistan2110020.555
New Zealand2110020.555
Sri Lanka303000-2.564
TeamsMWLTN/RPTNRR
South Africa3210041.527
England2200040.653
West Indies2110021.154
Bangladesh211002-0.125
Scotland303000-2.671
TEAMSMWLTN\RPTNRR
Guyana Amazon Warriors107300140.799
St Lucia Kings107300140.673
Trinbago Knight Riders107300140.455
Barbados Royals105500100.084
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons1037006-0.592
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots1019002-1.479

Most Popular

Recent Comments

Title: Top 5 Teams With Most Wins in Test Cricket Top 5 Batters with Most Fifties in Test Cricket Top 5 Indian fast bowlers with most wickets in international cricket Top-5 players with most runs in a calendar year in ODIs Top 5 Players With Most Sixes in Test Cricket