The Women’s Premier League (WPL) continues to play a crucial role in developing India’s bench strength. While this year’s big awards were swept by overseas players, some young Indian cricketers left an indelible mark. Here are three standout Indian youngsters who displayed the potential to make it big in the years to come.
- G Kamalini (Mumbai Indians)
India’s U19 World Cup-winning opener and wicketkeeper, G Kamalini, was picked up by Mumbai Indians during the tournament after their opening-match defeat against Delhi Capitals. Thrown into an unfamiliar lower-middle-order role, she adapted seamlessly.
Kamalini began her WPL career with a boundary—an early sign of her confidence. In only her second match, she played a crucial unbeaten 11-run knock against RCB, forging a match-winning partnership with Amanjot Kaur. Against the seasoned Ekta Bisht, Kamalini hit the winning runs with remarkable composure.
In the final, she showcased her fearless approach with a stunning six—an emphatic statement that she belongs on the big stage. While she still needs more experience in U19, India A, domestic, and WPL matches before receiving a senior call-up, Kamalini is undoubtedly a player India must invest in, groom, and nurture for the future.
- Niki Prasad (Delhi Capitals)
If Kamalini’s rise was impressive, her U19 World Cup-winning captain, Niki Prasad, was not far behind. On her WPL debut, she played a match-winning knock of 35 (33) against Mumbai Indians, holding the innings together despite wickets falling around her. Though she couldn’t finish the game herself, she had already done enough to secure victory and earned the Player of the Match award.
While her opportunities were limited, she proved her mettle in the final against Mumbai Indians. With DC struggling, she formed a crucial partnership with Marizanne Kapp, nearly turning the game in their favour. Under immense pressure, she struck a sublime square drive for four off Shabnim Ismail—a bowler who had barely conceded a boundary all game.
However, it was her six off Hayley Matthews, WPL’s second-highest wicket-taker, that truly stood out. Advancing down the track, she cleanly lofted the ball over deep mid-wicket, stunning Matthews herself. While some might argue she should have closed the game for DC, her ability to handle pressure at just 19 is a rare quality. With time and exposure, she could evolve into a dependable middle-order batter and even a future leader.
- Kashvee Gautam (Gujarat Giants)
Gujarat Giants invested in Kashvee Gautam during the WPL 2024 auction, with Mithali Raj and Nooshin Al Khadeer backing her to lead their pace attack. An injury kept her out last season, but in WPL 2025, she repaid their faith with a stellar performance.
Finishing as the tournament’s sixth-highest wicket-taker with 11 scalps in nine innings, Kashvee averaged 18.18 at a strike rate of 16.90. Her economy rate of 6.45 was the second-best in the entire tournament. Her bowling style is simple yet highly effective—stump-to-stump accuracy, swinging the ball in, and forcing batters into mistakes.
Her dismissals tell the story: out of 11 wickets, four were bowled, and two were LBWs. More importantly, her victims weren’t just any batters—they included Meg Lanning, Hayley Matthews, Harmanpreet Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Richa Ghosh, and Annabel Sutherland. Kashvee proved she could be India’s answer to Pooja Vastrakar’s absence.
A self-confessed Hardik Pandya fan, she also contributed with the bat. In a group-stage match against DC, she smashed a crucial six off Shikha Pandey to help Gujarat Giants seal victory. While an experiment to open the innings didn’t work, her ability to clear the ropes and finish games adds another dimension to her skill set.
Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta, speaking on RevSportz’s Untold Tales with Trisha, pointed out that Kashvee could increase her pace as she matures, making her an even greater threat in the future.
While players like N Charani also impressed, these three stood out. Kamalini and Niki Prasad may need more time before breaking into the senior Indian team, but Kashvee Gautam has made a compelling case for herself.
With India set to play a tri-series in Sri Lanka in April, followed by a tour of England in June-July 2025, don’t be surprised if Kashvee finds herself on that flight. The WPL has once again proven its worth—not just as a marquee T20 league, but as a platform to unearth and groom the future of Indian women’s cricket.
Harmanpreet Kaur starred for the eventual champions MI, while RCB’s Smriti Mandhana struggled.
Here’s a deep dive into how the Indian players performed in the #WPL2025 @snehasis_95 #TATAWPL #DCvMI https://t.co/ArFrTzh9Y6
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) March 16, 2025
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