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.