As the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) gears up for its upcoming season, a strong Indian contingent has thrown their hats into the draft ring. Featuring seasoned campaigners and promising young stars, the list includes 14 Indian players, all available for the full season and finals. Here’s a closer look at who’s in and what they bring to the table.
Veterans and key retentions:
Yastika Bhatia: Yastika remains available for retention for the Melbourne Stars, having featured for them last season. A technically sound left-hander and a dependable wicketkeeper, she plays a crucial role in India’s middle order and is a long-term asset in white-ball formats. Last season she played 6 games for the Stars, before an Injury cut-short her campaign, and amassed 154 runs with the highest score of 57. Her steady improvement in international strike rates and versatility behind the stumps make her a smart pickup.
Shreyanka Patil: India’s emerging spin sensation, Shreyanka has been a breakout star in T20 leagues. Shreyanka, in particular, has caught attention with her performance in the WCPL and WPL, known for her aggressive approach and fearless attitude under pressure. In WCPL she has picked up 9 wickets with best bowling figures of 4/34 and 19 wickets with best bowling figures of 4/12 in WPL.
Pratika Rawal: Pratika, known for her remarkable consistency in international cricket, has shown promise as a steady opening-batter. She has amassed 638 runs, including the highest of 154, from just 11 ODI outings in what has been a historic run so far. She has also been handy with the ball and continues to show promise through her consistent all-round contributions in both domestic and international cricket.
Arundhati Reddy: With her pace and agility in the field, she remains a strong all-round package. She has picked up 28 wickets, with the best bowling figure of 3/19, from 32 T20Is. With more game time in the domestic circuit and an impressive WPL campaign, she’ll be aiming to cement a place in the global T20 scene.
Jemimah Rodrigues: Jemimah will be available for retention for the Brisbane Heat. Previously playing for 3 teams, she has amassed 644 runs in total, with her highest score of 75 for Melbourne Renegades. Rodrigues brings flair, control, and global T20 league experience, having played in The Hundred, WBBL, WCPL, and Women’s Premier League (WPL). From 94 T20I outings she has amassed 2267 runs, at an average of 30.22, and a strike rate of 116.01, and smashed both international centuries so far, this year, enjoying a purple patch.
Shikha Pandey: Senior pacer, a consistent contributor with the ball and handy with the bat, she is available for retention for the Brisbane Heat. Last season, she picked up 12 wickets from as many outings and returned the best of 2/14. She has played over 100 internationals for India and has been a consistent presence in T20 competitions of late, from New Zealand’s Super Smash to the West Indies Caribbean Premier League, she is a reliable asset.
Radha Yadav: A consistent performer in India’s spin arsenal, Radha is also among the nominees. In T20I cricket, she has picked up 97 wickets with best bowling figures of 4/23, from just 81 outings, and can also be more than handy with the bat on a few occasions. The left-arm orthodox spinner, known for her sharp turn and brave death-overs bowling, adds variation and control is ideal for the shorter formats.
Upcoming Talents:
The draft pool also includes several exciting young Indian prospects who could make a significant impact if given the opportunity. Players like Kanika Ahuja, a breakout star from the Women’s Premier League (WPL), U19 World Cup-winning captain Niki Prasad, and emerging senior India team talents Kashvee Gautam and Priya Mishra represent the promising next generation. Kanika has impressed with her clean hitting and bold stroke play in the WPL. Kashvee Gautam, known for her pace and power in the Under-19 domestic circuit, also attracted one of the highest bids during the WPL auctions.
Indians registered for WBBL 2025 Draft:
Kanika Ahuja, *Yastika Bhatia, Uma Chetry, Salonee Dangore, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, *Shikha Pandey, Shreyanka Patil, Niki Prasad, Pratika Rawal, Arundhati Reddy, *Jemimah Rodrigues, Meghana Sabbineni, Radha Yadav
*Available for retention
The 2025 Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) draft is set to take place on June 19, with live coverage available across 7mate, 7plus, Fox Sports, and Kayo Sports starting at 4pm.
This year’s draft sees all eight WBBL clubs participating with four picks each—one per round—across four salary bands: Platinum ($110,000), Gold ($90,000), Silver ($65,000), and Bronze (up to $40,000) for overseas players. Teams are required to select at least three overseas players, including any pre-signed internationals, who must still be officially picked during the draft process.
A key feature of the 2025 draft is the retention pick, which allows each club to keep one overseas player—provided they use the pick in the same round another club selects that player, and only if they haven’t already picked in that round. Over 600 overseas players have nominated across both the men’s and women’s drafts, with all WBBL nominees available for the full season and finals.
Notable retention-eligible players this year, from the wider pool, include Sophie Ecclestone (Sydney Sixers), Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey (Brisbane Heat), Deandra Dottin (Melbourne Renegades), Heather Knight (Sydney Thunder), and Amy Jones (Perth Scorchers).
