From Sneh Rana to Issy Wong: Top 5 talking points from WPL 2025 Retentions

WPL 2025 Retention: The five teams participating in the upcoming edition of the WPL named their list of retained and released players. Gujarat Giants released two of their most senior players and will go into the auction with a purse of INR 4.40 crore.

In Short

• Mumbai Indians released Issy Wong
• Gujarat Giants released Lea Tahuhu and Sneh Rana
• RCB let go South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk

The Retentions for the Women’s Premier League 2025 took place on Thursday, November 7. Gujarat Giants released six players and have a purse of INR 4.40 crore, the biggest among all five teams in the competition. The Beth Mooney-led team failed to qualify for the playoffs in both the seasons and will be looking to turn their fortunes around.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had to let go of South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk. Earlier, they had traded in Danni Wyatt-Hodge from the UP Warriorz. Delhi Capitals (DC), who finished as the runners-up in both the editions, also made a few changes to their squad for the upcoming season.

WPL 2025 Retention: Highlights

Here's a look at the top 5 talking points from the Women’s Premier League Retentions, announced on November 7, Thursday

1. Gujarat Giants release Sneh Rana

Sneh Rana’s release from the Gujarat Giants was surprising, to say the least. The Giants failed to qualify for the playoffs both teams, but Rana was expected to be a key for them. She captained them after Beth Mooney was ruled out of the inaugural edition due to an injury.

Rana also became the second bowler, earlier this year, to take an eight-wicket haul in Tests for India during the Chennai Test against South Africa. With Rana not being in their squad anymore, the Giants look terribly short of experience in the bowling department.

On her exclusion, Michael Klinger, the head coach of the Giants said, “Sneh Rana wasn't guaranteed a spot in our starting XI. She's great around the group and is experienced. It was a hard decision. But we felt, going forward, we have some improvements to do and some tough calls to make and that's why we went that way.”

2. After India, Poonam Yadav loses WPL team

Poonam Yadav was once a critical part of the Indian team in ODIs and T20Is, being a genuine wicket-taker. But after the first half of 2022, Poonam lost her place in the Indian team. But that she was a part of the Delhi Capitals in the WPL gave her the platform to find her spot back in the national setup.

But on Thursday, DC let her go along with Laura Harris, Ashwani Kumari and Aparna Mondal. She played three games for the Capitals in the WPL without taking a single wicket. From being an indispensable member of Team India with 178 wickets, Poonam has somehow gone off the boil.

3. Unlucky Lea Tahuhu misses out

Lea Tahuhu joined the Giants last season for Rs 30 lakhs after Lauren Cheatle was ruled out of the tournament. She played only two games last season and picked up a solitary wicket. But Tahuhu was in impressive form as she helped New Zealand win the Women’s T20 World Cup title in the UAE.

The 34-year-old Tahuhu started with a bang, picking up three wickets against India. Overall, in six games, the veteran took five wickets at a decent economy rate of 7.12. With Tahuhu and Rana’s departure, Gujarat’s bowling stocks look thin.

4. Mumbai Indians lose faith in Issy Wong

Issy Wong had a dream run for Mumbai Indians in the inaugural edition of the WPL. She finished as the second-highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps from 10 matches. What brought her into the limelight was the hat-trick she took against UP Warriorz in the all-important Eliminator at the DY Patil Stadium.

But after MI roped in Shabnim Ismail, Wong lost her place. Last year, the youngster played only two games and took three wickets at an economy rate of 8.33. She also could not hold on to her spot in the England national team. Wong became one of the four cricketers MI released along with Fatima Jaffer, Humaira Kazi and Priyanka Bala.

5. UP Warriorz give Alyssa Healy another chance

Alyssa Healy led the UP Warriorz in the first two editions of the WPL. In the first season, they made their way through to the Eliminator, where MI beat them. Last season, the Warriorz could not go beyond the group stage. However, the franchise has shown faith in Healy to deliver.

Healy has been a key player for them in the batting department, having scored 428 runs from 17 games at an average of 26.75 and a strike-rate of 130.48 with three fifties. Her top score of 96 not out came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in WPL 2023.