The inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been a resounding success, laying down the marker for the quality and consistency that women’s cricket can bring to the shortest format of the game. Ahead of the final, where the Delhi Capitals (DC) will meet the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday evening, there has been a plethora of landmark moments on the pitch, from sensational innings to fantastic spells to outstanding displays of fielding and leadership. However, there is one more arena where cricket’s finest female players have showcased their skills with equal measure, the virtual world of social media.
My Kolkata has sifted through the digital library to pick the standout social media moments during WPL season 1.
Jemimah Rodrigues can do it all
DC have set the WPL alight this year, not least due to the varied talents of 22-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues. From taking flying catches at the edge of the 30-yard circle to guiding her team home with the bat to hopping on the back of the Gujarat Giants’ Harleen Deol, Rodrigues has been the complete package on the field. Off it, she has dazzled all her fans with her singing, dancing and guitar performances, living up to the moniker of an all-round entertainer.
Ellyse Perry’s Holi look
Though the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a disappointing campaign, Ellyse Perry had an impressive season, as expected. In this viral picture from the RCB Instagram account, it is evident that Perry’s first Holi experience was a blast, with her naturally blonde hair turning red. Matching the colour of her kit at that! On field, Perry’s true colours came to the fore as she smashed an unbeaten 67 off 52 versus the Capitals and 52 off 39 versus the UP Warriorz, along with a stunning bowling performance of three for 16 as part of RCB’s first WPL win, against the UP Warriorz.
Yastika Bhatia performs ‘Agar Tum Kaho’
There definitely seems to be a fair amount of musical talent among the WPL players, with UP’s Yastika Bhatia joining Rodrigues in exhibiting her melodious self. At 22, Bhatia has enjoyed an assured season for MI, both as an opener and as a safe pair of hands behind the stumps. However, in this particular instance, Bhatia showed she can be just as assured with the guitar in hand, as she strummed along to ‘Agar Tum Kaho’, with her family as the audience.
UP Warriorz bond over tabla
The UP Warriors delivered a series of solid performances in the WPL, en route to their playoff defeat against MI. A team that was not fancied by many at the start of the competition progressed deep into the knockouts owing to camaraderie and bonding, sticking together during the rough times and celebrating each other’s success. Maybe this off-field tabla jam session had something to do with it!
The Capitals playing Baadshah
DC entered the playoffs with a roar and will now attempt to win their first-ever trophy as a franchise. To mark their entry into the knockouts, the Capitals’ women recreated this memorable number from Shah Rukh Khan’s Baadshah, with skipper Meg Lanning replicating SRK’s iconic step. Can they now move from reel to real life and still be the Baadshah on the field? The final and MI await.
