Jemima and Deepti included in Women's Big Bash Draft: Total 6 Indian players selected, Smriti Mandhana to play for Adelaide Strikers

Six Indian players, including Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, have been selected in the overseas draft for the Women's Big Bash League 2024. Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey will play for Brisbane Heat. While all-rounder Deepti Sharma will be seen playing for Melbourne Stars. Earlier, Smriti Mandhana was selected as a pre-draft overseas player by the defending champions Adelaide Strikers. Jemimah, Jonassen and Shikha will also be seen in the same team in the WBBL after the Women's Premier League and Women's Caribbean League, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen and Shikha Pandey will also be seen playing for the same team in the Women's Big Bash League. All three players have been included by Brisbane Heat for this season. All three players have played for Delhi Capitals in the WPL and Trinbago Knight Riders in the WCPL. Smriti Mandhana to play for defending champions Indian opener Smriti Mandhana will be seen playing with the defending champions Adelaide Strikers in this season of Women's Big Bash League. He has signed a pre-draft overseason contract with the franchise. She became the first Indian player to do so. Apart from Mandhana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma have also been included in the draft. The 28-year-old Mandhana will be playing for the fourth team in the league's 10-year history. Mandhana was previously part of Brisbane Heat in 2016, Hobart Hurricanes in 2018–19 and Sydney Thunders in 2021. India's vice-captain Mandhana was not part of the league in 2023. He decided not to participate in the league due to workload management and domestic cricket. The current season of the league starts from September 1. Kate Cross and Lauren Filler included in women's draft England's Kate Cross and Lauren Filler are both available for the women's draft for the full season. South African fast bowler Shabnam Ismail, who may be retained by Hobart Hurricanes. Players from 30 different countries were called for this year's BBL draft. It also features players from emerging cricketing nations such as Hong Kong, Uganda, Japan, Greece, Indonesia and Romania. The draft also saw the return of many Big Bash icons. Haris Rauf, who may be retained by the Melbourne Stars. He has been nominated for Games 6-9 plus the final. His previous stint with the Stars was amazing. He won many matches for Melbourne Stars.

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