The Women’s Premier League (WPL) second season is set to captivate spectators. On February 23, the defending champions Mumbai Indians will face the runners-up Delhi Capitals in the first game in Bengaluru. After considerable uncertainty a year ago, the maiden season of the WPL was a resounding success, with all five competing clubs dazzling fans with exciting play. With that said, as cricket fans prepare for an intriguing and fierce sporting exhibition, let us rate the five teams based on squad strength ahead of what looks to be another fascinating WPL season.

Mumbai Indians- 9/10

The defending champions, Mumbai Indians, have been a team doing well on the field and the auctions. With an impeccable start to their female cricket stint, the team has made a strong and consistent team for the upcoming second edition. The team would leave no stone unturned to clinch their second consecutive title. In the auction, the Mumbai Indians added another top player to their roster. Shabnim Ismail, a senior pacer from South Africa, joined MI for INR 1.2 Crore to round up their bowling assault.

Along with Ismail, Mumbai acquired uncapped Indian players Keerthana Balakrishnan, Amandeep Kaur, S Sajana, and Fatima Jaffer. In the forthcoming tournament, MI will defend the championship under Harmanpreet Kaur, and the team management would want their elite veterans to come up and play aggressive cricket.

Delhi Capitals- 8.5/10

Despite losing in the final of the first WPL to the Mumbai Indians (MI), the Delhi Capitals (DC) were the best team during the league rounds, with six victories in eight games. Led by the great Meg Lanning, the team added Australian batting all-rounder Annabel Sutherland to the auction. Despite finishing as the leading run-scorer the previous season, Lanning’s retirement and lack of playing time may cause a drop in form.

DC has a well-balanced batting lineup that includes Lanning, Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, and the much-improved Jemimah Rodrigues, followed by all-rounders Marizanne Kapp and Sutherland. With Shikka Pandey, Jess Jonassen, Radha Yadav, and Poonam Yadav, the Capitals have a pretty powerful bowling assault. Thanks to their robust arsenal, the team will undoubtedly be motivated after falling short last year.

Royal Challengers Bangalore- 8/10

Prominently known for their loyal fan base and star-studded team, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be a team to check out in the coming WPL edition. Though they had a forgettable last edition, the team has revamped post the auction and is eager to make an impact. The team has the ultimate match-winner at the top of the order, Smriti Mandhana, and the most accomplished all-rounder, Ellyse Perry. However, obtaining ultimate greatness requires more than just a few match-winning players. RCB may once again need to catch up in those areas.

Despite making a few tactical changes to improve their lower-order batting and bowling depth with the additions of Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, and Sophie Molineux, the squad still needs more punch than the other four competing teams. Overall, it would be a season to check out for the Red Army, and there is no sign of a down in entertainment by the team.

Gujarat Giants- 7/10

Following their poor performance in the inaugural WPL season, the Gujarat Giants released non-performing players before the auction. The franchise kept just eight players, including prominent stars like Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam Shakil, Harleen Deol, and Sneh Rana.

The Gujarat-based outlet signed current artists Phoebe Litchfield, Lauren Cheatle, and Kathryn Bryce at the auction. The squad has also shown confidence in India’s indigenous talents, Kashvee Gautam, Trisha Poojitha, and Meghna Singh. Gautam’s services were reserved for a large sum of INR 2 crore. Overall, the Giants significantly lack lower middle-order and fast-bowling abilities, and these two areas may prevent the team from accomplishing their ultimate goal of capturing their first WPL title.

UP Warriorz- 6/10

UP Warriorz already had seasoned players on their roster, including captain Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Ecclestone, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad. During the auction, they recruited another veteran, Danni Wyatt, known for exceptional hitting abilities. They can produce stunning numbers for the squad. The club also acquired India’s uncapped all-rounder Poonam Khemnar, who now plays domestic cricket for Nagaland Women.

The Warriorz has also spent INR 1.3 crore on Vrinda Dinesh, who has demonstrated her abilities while playing for Karnataka Women on the domestic circuit. However, the team would dearly miss the experienced Indian players on their squad, who can understand the Indian conditions better and benefit the team, possibly creating some tricky scenarios for the squad.