Kashvee Gautam, a fast-bowling all-rounder, became the most expensive new player in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 auction. Gujarat Giants bought her for INR 2 crores. Abhinav Mukund, a former India player, thinks Kashvee is the fast bowler Gujarat needed.
He also likes the overseas players on the Gujarat team. “Last year, Kashvee might not have been very fast, but this year she’s doing great with the new ball. Gujarat really needed a bowler like her. Their overseas players, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Laura Wolvaardt, and Kathryn Bryce, are all excellent,” he told JioCinema.
Kashvee played for India A against England A in Mumbai last year. She was also part of the India ‘A’ squad that won the ACC Emerging tournament in Hong Kong in June 2023. Last month, she won the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for being the best women cricketer in the junior domestic circuit for the 2019-20 season.
Mithali Raj, the former India captain and mentor of Gujarat Giants, said, “Kashvee Gautam is young, and we’re not just looking at this season. We’re thinking about the next two seasons. Even if she doesn’t perform very well now, it’s an investment for the future. She’s a potential player for the Indian team because she can bowl, bat, and field well.”
Saba Karim, a former India men’s wicketkeeper-batter, thinks people will also watch Phoebe Litchfield, an Australian opener who won the ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year award for the 2023 season.
“Both Kashvee and Phoebe will focus on controlling the top-order. The team looks a bit top-order heavy, but they might find balance during the camps. They have Kathryn Bryce, a pace bowler, to strengthen their bowling attack,” he added.
Gujarat Giants came last in the first WPL season in 2023. They will start their WPL 2024 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on February 25th.