WPL 2023: Combined Best Players 11 of the Tournament
Hayley Matthews and Meg Lanning, the standout as we look at the combined best performing players 11 of the tournament for WPL 2023.
The inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League, the WPL 2023 has concluded on a blockbuster note with Mumbai Indians defeating Delhi Capitals in a thrilling finale. The star-studded MI line-up some key team performances from various players to help MI clinch the first title of WPL.
The tournament that is going to change the fate of Women’s cricket had everything that one could ask for. The 22 matches played over a period of 21 days saw some exciting thrillers, brilliant batting and bowling performances, and an overseas player domination when it comes to Individual player performances.
One of the core objectives of creating the Women’s Premier League was to help facilitate Indian Women’s performances. While we did see some good individual brilliance from Indian women, it was the foreign women that laid the impression as a whole in the tournament. It may not be the output that BCCI and fans expected, but it was a positive start for Women’s cricket.
So, having seen some brilliant individual brilliance in the tournament, let’s look at the combined best players 11 for WPL 2023. Honestly, we would have opted out of the rule to keep only four foreigners in the final playing 11 seeing so many overseas players performing well, but we got to stick to the rule, and finalize the best 4 overseas players.
Stats Wizard Methodology:
Batting: As always, we have analyzed the batting performances basis the batting rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as runs scored, consistency, the number of match-winning & good knocks, acceleration bonus, and power-hitting bonus.
Bowling: We have analyzed the bowling performances basis the bowling rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as wickets taken, consistency, the number of match-winning and good spells, number of maidens bowled, and economy rate bonus.
Overall, the combined best performing players 11 for WPL 2023 is selected basis of the performance rating. Even though we saw a lot of overseas players performing well, the team has been selected keeping a maximum of 4 overseas players in the squad.
Top-order:
#1: Hayley Matthews [MI] – 9.1
Inns: 10 // Runs: 271 // Wkts: 16 // ER: 5.9 // SR: 126.04
Undoubtedly the MVP of the tournament, Hayley Matthews led Mumbai Indians with the bat at the top, and then performed a crucial role with the ball in the middle phase of the matches. Having played all 10 matches, Matthews scored a total of 271 runs while batting, and won the purple cap in the bowling by taking 16 wickets.
#2: Shafali Verma [DC] – 7.1
Inns: 9 // Runs: 252 // SR: 185.3 // HS: 84
Shafali Verma breath fire in the tournament with her aggressive batting. Except for her performance in the final, she did pretty well scoring 252 runs from 9 innings. Shafali played two outstanding knocks of 84 off 45 and 76 off 28 balls, and her strike rate of 185.3 is the highest among all players.
#3: Meg Lanning [DC] – 8.3
Inns: 9 // Runs: 345 // SR: 139.1 // HS: 72
The orange cap winner and undoubtedly the best batter of the tournament, Meg Lanning led the Delhi Capitals team with an example. Lanning finished the tournament as the leading run scorer with 345 runs from just 9 innings. She scored only two fifties, but scored well on 7 out of 9 occasions; thus achieving a consistency of 77.8%.
Middle-order:
#4: Nat Sciver [MI] – 7.3
Inns: 10 // Runs: 332 // Wkts: 10 // ER: 7.1 // SR: 140.1
The player of the Knockouts, Nat Sciver was the main reason why Mumbai Indians were able to clinch the trophy. Her outstanding fifties in the Eliminator and Final was the key highlight of her performance. Overall, Sciver finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 332 runs and 10 wickets under her belt.
#5: Harmanpreet Kaur [c] [MI] – 7.2
Inns: 9 // Runs: 281 // SR: 135.1 // HS: 65
The best Indian batter of the tournament, Harmanpreet Kaur led her side with some brilliant knocks under pressure. Batting in the middle-order, Kaur still scored 281 runs in the tournament; even after some amazing top-order performances. What’s more, she became the first player to lead her side to a trophy in WPL.
Finishers:
#6: Richa Ghosh [wk] [RCB] – 4.3
Inns: 7 // Runs: 138 // SR: 135.3 // HS: 37
The only player from RCB, and also the keeper of the squad. Richa Ghosh may not have had an outstanding tournament, but her only competition was Yastika Bhatika, who played a role of an opener. Overall, there was not much to choose between these two, and the only reason why Richa gets an edge is because of her role as a finisher in a top-order heavy side.
#7: Dayalan Hemalatha [GG]
Inns: 8 // Runs: 151 // SR: 157.3 // SR: 57
One of the two positions where the overseas players were good, but an Indian had to be selected due to overseas player restrictions. Grace Harris, who had an outstanding record deserved to be selected for this position, but due to overseas rule, Hemalatha got an edge. Overall, Hemalatha didn’t disappoint much having scored 151 runs from 8 innings at a good strike rate of 157.3
Bowlers:
#8: Deepti Sharma [UPW] – 4.6
Inns: 9 // Runs: 90 // Wkts: 9 // ER: 8.9 // SR: 83.3
Honestly, Deepti Sharma doesn’t deserve to be in this team of the tournament, but the 4 overseas player rule meant, she had to be selected. An all-rounder by her skills, Deepti only impressed in the bowling, but that too not exceedingly well. She managed to take 9 wickets from 9 innings at an economy rate of 8.9.
#9: Shikha Pandey [DC] – 5.8
Inns: 9 // Wkts: 10 // ER: 6.6 // BBI: 3/23
The best Indian pacer of the tournament, Shikha Pandey finished with a total of 10 wickets from 9 innings at an economy rate of 6.6. Shikha didn’t have an outstanding tournament, but among all Indian pacers, she had the best returns. However, it was the performance with the bat in the final that Shikha would be remembered for.
#10: Issy Wong [MI] – 7.5
Inns: 10 // Wkts: 15 // ER: 6.5 // BBI: 4/15
Similar to Nat Sciver, Issy Wong gave some brilliant performances in the Knockouts. She had a spell of 4/15 and 3/42 in the Eliminator and Final respectively including a hat-trick in the Eliminator against the UP Warriorz. Overall, Issy finished with 15 wickets from 10 innings at a good economy rate of 6.5 and a consistency of 50%.
#11: Saika Ishaque [MI] – 7.6
Inns: 10 // Wkts: 15 // ER: 7.0 // BBI: 4/11
Undoubtedly the most impressive Indian bowler of the tournament, Saika Ishaque can be considered as the find of the tournament. Having not played a single match for India, Saika went on to be the leading wicket-taker for India with 15 wickets from 10 games at a good economy rate of 7 and a consistency of 60%.
WPL 2023 – Combined Best Team of the Tournament:
Hayley Matthews, Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning, Nat Sciver, Harmanpreet Kaur [c], Richa Ghosh [wk], Dayalan Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Shikha Pandey, Issy Wong & Saika Ishaque
WPL 2023 – Combined Best Team of the Tournament Without Restriction:
Hayley Matthews, Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning, Nat Sciver, Harmanpreet Kaur [c], Grace Harris, Richa Ghosh [wk], Amelia Kerr, Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong & Saika Ishaque
Thanks for reading! What’s your take the best performing players 11 for WPL 2023? Please email your thoughts to cric8fanatic@gmail.com
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