Sunday, September 15, marks the beginning of the Uttarakhand Premier League 2024. While the men get the tournament underway on Sunday, the women will be in action later in the week with three teams fighting it out for the women’s UPL 2024 title.
The Mussoorie Thunders, Nainital SG Pipers and Pithoragarh Hurricanes will find themselves in a three-way tussle with the first match between the Hurricanes and the SG Pipers to be played on Wednesday, 18 September. A single round-robin phase will be followed by the final with the top two teams proceeding to play the same.
Ahead of what is just the third state-run women’s T20 franchise competition in India, we look at the three teams and their squad composition here:
Mussoorie Thunders
The Mussoorie Thunders opted for railways fast-bowler Mansi Joshi as their icon player and captain at the player draft. With 14 ODIs and 8 T20Is under her belt for India, Joshi is the biggest name in the Thunders’ setup who will carry the franchise’s hopes on her shoulders as they seek to write themselves into history.
The batting lineup wears a robust look with the experienced duo of Sarita Koli and Reena Jindal leading the core. All eyes will also be on Anjali Goswami, who tallied 186 runs at the BCCI Women’s U23 T20 Trophy 2023-24, while Nandini Kashyap is another youngster who will look at this tournament as the ideal platform to catapult her into the limelight.
Sakshi Joshi and Gaytri Arya, both of whom impressed at the Women’s U23 T20 and ODI Trophy 2023-24 respectively, will be tasked with leading the way with the ball alongside her skipper. The X-factor though could be Prema Rawat, who brings variety of a different kind in the form of left-arm wrist-spin.
Squad: Mansi Joshi (Captain & Icon), Reena Jindal, Sakshi Joshi, Sarika Koli, Garima Bisht, Prema Rawat, Anjali Goswami, Neha Mehta, Nandini Kashyap, Divya Bohra, Shagun Chaudhary, Gaytri Arya, Nandini Sharma, Rudra Sharma and Sona Badola.
Nainital SG Pipers
The biggest name in the Women’s UPL 2024, Ekta Bisht, will lead the Nainital SG Pipers, doubling up as their icon player too. With oodles of international experience behind her, the left-arm spinner is the glue that is expected to hold the SG Pipers outfit together.
Bisht will turn towards Pramila Rawat to shoulder the bowling responsibility alongside her. Kanchan Parihar, who enters the tournament on the back of a strong showing at the Women’s U23 T20 and ODI tournaments, headlines the batting lineup with a lot also hinging on Megha Saini and Radha Chand, both of whom have represented Uttarakhand at the domestic level. Sweta Verma, who could don the wicket-keeper’s gloves, also comes in with domestic experience behind her and that is just what the SG Pipers will fall back upon in a fast-paced tournament.
Squad: Ekta Bisht (Captain & Icon), Kanchan Parihar, Radha Chand, Megha Saini, Sweta Verma, Amisha Bahukhandi, Gunjan Bhandari, Pramila Rawat, KM Aarti, Kanak Tapraniya, Vaishali Tulera, Dipika Chand, Tanya Kanaujiya, Manisha Kunwar and Priya.
Pithoragarh Hurricanes
Much like the SG Pipers, the Pithoragarh Hurricanes will have their eyes set on the double and seal both the men’s and women’s trophies in UPL 2024. The Hurricanes will be led by all-rounder Neelam Bisht, who has been a part of the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League.
With quick runs in the lower middle-order and wicket-taking ability thanks to her crafty leg-spin, Neelam is the trump card that could single-handedly turn games in favor of the Hurricanes. It’s all the more important that she is at her best, considering that the in-form Raghvi Bist has been ruled out of the tournament.
Her namesake Neelam Bharadwaj is another player who could light up the tournament. Having debuted for the state at the age of 15 and strung in consistent performances at the age group levels, Bharadwaj will be looking to come of age as an all-rounder in UPL 2024.
Opener Jyoti Giri will look to get the team off to a rollicking start with the bat while the bowling attack remains in the hands of her state teammate Abdul Safina and seamer Ruchi Chauhan, who has been signed as Raghvi’s replacement. Kanak Tapraniya may have endured a tough time at the Women’s U19 One Day Trophy but she could be a player to watch out as well.
Squad: Neelam Bisht (Captain & Icon), Neelam Bharadwaj, Jyoti Giri, Safina, Anjali Kathait, Preeti Bhandari, Muskan Kumari, Karuna Shety, Ankita Shah, Bhoomi Umar, Ritika Chauhan, Yashika Baunthiyal, Ananya Mehra, Nandina Kaushik and Ruchi Chauhan.
