85 to 305: MPL sees quantum leap in women’s pool ahead of April 30 draft

Indore: Signalling a sharp uptick in women's cricket in the state, the pool of players for the upcoming women's Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) has seen a significant jump, with 305 cricketers declared eligible for the draft compared to 85 last year. Player registrations for the domestic state T20 league started on Monday, while the draft will be held in Gwalior on April 30.Among the prominent names expected to feature in the draft pool are World Cup winner Kranti Goud, uncapped Mumbai Indians star in the WPL, Sanskriti Gupta, rising sensation, Vaishnavi Sharma, Anushka Sharma, who earned her maiden India call-up recently, and another recent India debutant Shuchi Upadhyay, along with youngster Anaadi Tagde.The expansion in the pool comes alongside an increase in teams from three to five, reflecting growing player interest and participation from across the state. While the draft system continues for women, the men's competition shifted to an auction-based format this season, with franchises bidding for players using a purse of Rs 50 lakh each. Last year, both men's and women's teams were selected through a draft.Under the draft system, players are grouped into categories based on experience and performance. Franchises then take turns to pick players in a structured sequence, ensuring a balanced spread of talent across teams rather than open bidding.The women's competition, this season, will feature Bhopal Wolves, Bundelkhand Bulls and Chambal Ghariyals, along with two new entrants: Gwalior and Royal Nimar Eagles. "It will be exciting to see the player draft this year, as women cricketers from MP are performing exceptionally well at the international and national level. More players from across the state will get a chance to showcase their talent, with national selectors closely tracking the league," MPL CEO Ravi Patankar told TOI.Bundelkhand Bulls had won the previous edition, defeating Chambal Ghariyals in an absorbing title clash.Players in the draft, this year, will be divided into four categories. Established Indian players and Women's Premier League performers will be placed in the top bracket as icon players, while the D category will include Under-19 cricketers and those who have represented Madhya Pradesh in domestic competitions over the past two years.Keen to take the success of the men's league to the women's game, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) president Mahanaaryaman Scindia introduced the MPL women's teams last year. At the recent men's auction, he announced the addition of two more teams in the women's section, stating that the move would enhance the profile of the fledgling league while also raising the level of competition.