WPL 2024: Kanika & Kashvee ruled out of tournament; Sayali & Shraddha named replacements

India all-rounder Kanika Ahuja and uncapped fast-bowling all-rounder Kashvee Gautam have been ruled out of the upcoming 2024 season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) due to injuries. Kanika was set to play for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kashvee Gautam was signed by the Gujarat Giants for a record-breaking INR 2 crore in the WPL 2024 Player Auction.

The WPL Governing Council announced that Mumbai’s Sayali Sathgare will replace Kashvee at a reserve price of INR 10 lakh. Reports indicated that Kashvee was suffering from a stress fracture in her left foot, leading to her withdrawal from the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Shraddha Pokharkar, a left-arm fast bowler from Maharashtra, has been named as a replacement for Kanika by the RCB.

Gujarat Giants, who had finished last in the inaugural edition of WPL in 2023, will commence their 2024 campaign against defending champions Mumbai Indians at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on February 25. The RCB, on the other hand, will start their 2024 WPL season against the UP Warriorz at the same venue on February 24.

This news comes as a setback for both the Gujarat Giants and the RCB, as they will have to make do without their star players in the upcoming season. The absence of Kanika and Kashvee will certainly be felt, but the replacements will be eager to make their mark in the tournament.

The WPL 2024 is set to kick-off amidst much anticipation, and the absence of these key players will undoubtedly have an impact on their respective teams’ performances. The Gujarat Giants and the RCB will be hoping for a speedy recovery for their injured players while also banking on the abilities of the newly appointed replacements to fill the void left by Kanika and Kashvee.