West Indies star all-rounder Deandra Dottin became the first player to be sold and the second most expensive in the mini-auction for the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL), as she was purchased by the Gujarat Giants for a staggering INR 1.7 crore (approximately US$200,000) in Bengaluru on Sunday.
The 33-year-old cricketer brings a wealth of experience to the shortest format of the game, having played 132 WT20Is with a tally of 2,817 runs, including two centuries and 12 half-centuries.
Dottin’s acquisition marked the second-highest purchase of the auction, with the Giants also spending INR 1.9 crore (around US$224,000) on uncapped Indian player Simran Shaikh.
Meanwhile, India’s Under-19 wicketkeeper-batter G Kamalini was snapped up by the Mumbai Indians for INR 1.6 crore (approximately US $189,000).
Dottin’s sale as the first player under the hammer in the mini-auction is a significant milestone in her illustrious career.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Dottin has been associated with the Gujarat Giants, as she was initially signed by the franchise for INR 60 lakh (approximately US$71,000) before the inaugural WPL season. However, in a controversial move, she was released just days before the tournament began in 2023.
The aggressive right-handed batter has long been a trailblazer in women’s cricket. She was the first woman to score a century in T20 internationals, achieving the feat with a 38-ball hundred against South Africa during the 2010 T20 World Cup—a record that remains the fastest century by a woman in the format.
Her return to the WPL under the Gujarat Giants banner highlights her enduring appeal and status as one of the game’s most dynamic players. (SportsMax)
