DRS, Nov 28: New WPL team, BCCI won’t sack Gambhir, Patidar injury-free & Jemimah skips WBBL for Mandhana

The WPL 2026 mega auction had its moments. Apart from bids, there were BCCI and franchise announcements. Away from all of it, Jemimah Rodrigues lent her support to Smriti Mandhana. In men’s cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin criticised Indian batters. Gautam Gambhir has BCCI’s backing. Lastly, Rajat Patidar will return to competitive cricket soon.

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Deepti goes big, Healy gets no bids

The WPL 2026 mega auction was an action-packed event. Deepti Sharma became the second-most expensive buy in WPL auction history, returning to UP Warriorz. Meanwhile, Alyssa Healy and Alana King went unsold. During the auction, BCCI also announced the venues for the WPL 2026 season.

Gambhir to continue as India head coach

While the public wants Gautam Gambhir removed, the BCCI won’t act reactively. The board understands the Test team is under transition, with Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli all retiring in the last 12 months. Gambhir’s contract is in place till 2027, and BCCI won’t sack him as the 2026 T20 World Cup is just around the corner.

WPL to have 6 teams

DC co-owner Parth Jindal provided two important updates during the WPL 2026 mega auction. First, DC will appoint an Indian captain, Jemimah Rodrigues, in all likelihood. Second, BCCI will introduce another team soon, bring in home-away ties, and increase the number of matches.

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Patidar, fit again

Rajat Patidar has regained full fitness and will return as Madhya Pradesh’s captain from November 30. The experienced batter had injured his left knee last month and was reportedly ruled out for 4 months. Luckily, that turned out to be wrong, and he’ll play white-ball cricket for the first time since the IPL 2025 final.

Jemimah returns home for Mandhana

Jemimah Rodrigues has ended her WBBL stint with Brisbane Heat. The right-handed batter was due to leave to attend Smriti Mandana’s wedding, but despite the celebrations getting postponed due to her father’s sudden illness, Rodrigues won’t return. The franchise stated she’ll stay in India to support Mandhana.

Indian batters can’t play spin?

Ravichandran Ashwin has claimed that the current generation of Indian batters are ‘poor players of spin’. The former Indian cricketer stated that many Indian batters don’t have solid defence, and that’s why Simon Harmer ended up picking 17 wickets at 8.94. Ashwin added that great players of spin mix positive intent with good defence.

The post DRS, Nov 28: New WPL team, BCCI won’t sack Gambhir, Patidar injury-free & Jemimah skips WBBL for Mandhana appeared first on Inside Sport India.

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