Chandigarh: Deandra Dottin, the formidable West Indies cricketer, was initially signed by Gujarat Giants (GG) for ₹60 lakh before the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023. However, her withdrawal from the squad just days before the tournament sparked controversy, and she did not participate in the second edition of the WPL.

At 33 years old, Dottin, the eldest participant in the recent mini-auction held in Bengaluru, made a remarkable comeback as GG once again secured her services, this time for ₹1.7 crore. With a base price set at ₹50 lakh, the Windies all-rounder was the first player to be sold following a competitive bidding war between UP Warriorz and GG.

Dottin had previously announced her retirement from international cricket in 2022, citing issues with the West Indies cricket administration as a contributing factor. Nevertheless, she reversed her decision before the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE in October. During the tournament, she had a commendable performance, amassing 120 runs across five innings and claiming five wickets. Additionally, Dottin celebrated victory in the Women’s Big Bash League with the Melbourne Renegades.

Renowned for her explosive batting and all-around skills, Dottin is anticipated to enhance the performance of a Gujarat Giants team that struggled in both editions of the WPL, recording only four wins against twelve losses, and facing criticism regarding their team selections. The franchise has also parted ways with mentor Mithali Raj and assistant coach Nooshin Al-Khadeer for the upcoming season. GG entered the auction with the largest budget of ₹4.4 crore, needing to fill just four slots.

In a notable development, Mumbai all-rounder Simran Sheikh emerged as the most expensive player in the auction, with GG acquiring her for ₹1.9 crore, significantly above her base price of ₹10 lakh. The 22-year-old made her WPL debut for UP Warriorz in the inaugural season of 2023. After going unsold in the previous auction, she regained interest following her impressive performance in the recent Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, where she scored 176 runs in 11 matches, including a top score of 47.

Mumbai Indians also made headlines by purchasing 16-year-old Tamil Nadu batter G Kamalini for ₹1.6 crore, while Uttarakhand’s Prema Rawat was acquired by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Read Also: Kamilini of Tamil Nadu Becomes a WPL Crorepati at 16

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