WPL 2023: Ashleigh Gardner to Marizanne Kapp; Top overseas all-rounders to watch out for

The inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) is just a few days away as the Women's T20 cricket franchise league is set to take centre stage from March 4.

After the WPL auction, cricket fans across the country have already seen some of the top players bagging huge deals. The Indian names have dominated the biggest earners list and as the tournament comes ever closer, our focus here shifts to the all-rounders' category.

In women's cricket, the prevalence of multifaceted cricketers is an interesting phenomenon. And in the WPL auction, the demand for overseas all-rounders was pretty high as well. Mostly dominated by three countries - England, Australia and South Africa, there will be some high-class overseas all-rounders of the game taking part in the WPL.

Take a look at some of the foreign all-rounders to keep an eye on in the WPL 2023-

1. Ellyse Perry (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Country: Australia

WPL Auction Price: INR 1.7 crore

Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry was roped in by RCB in the auction. Perry has been an instrumental figure in the Australian team and has been a top performer for them.

She has 1535 T20I runs to her name at a decent average, while has 122 wickets in the shortest format of the game.

For RCB, Perry will be instrumental with her dual role as a pure all-rounder. Perry's experience, ability to get wickets with her bowling will be crucial for a RCB team that has plenty of armoury with the bat.

2. Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians)

Country: England

WPL Auction Price: INR 3.2 crore

England's Nat Sciver-Brunt will have the role to give MI-W a blistering start with the bat. She is a fantastic player up top and her ability to score runs at a brisk pace will be key for the MI women team in the WPL. She will have a huge duty with the ball with her medium-pace bowling. The intelligent English all-rounder was the most expensive buy for MI in the auction, and she has to come up with the goods in the tournament.

Sciver has been a superb performer for England but had an underwhelming T20 World Cup recently. She will be definitely someone to keep an eye on in the tournament.

3. Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat Giants)

Country: Australia

WPL Auction Price: INR 3.2 crore

Australia's Ashleigh Gardner was the joint most expensive overseas player in the auction. Gujarat Giants managed to rope her in and she will definitely be the nucleus of the Giants squad.

The Aussie had a superb Women's T20 World Cup as she was the player of the tournament, picking up 10 wickets and scoring 110 runs in the tournament.

For the Giants, Gardner's role will be pretty much the same. Her off-break bowling will be handy in the Mumbai pitches and her strong and aggressive batting in the middle of the order will be pivotal for the team as well. The 25-year-old will have the pressure of delivering after such a hefty price tag, but has the capability to perform well in the WPL.

4. Tahlia McGrath (UP Warriorz)

Country: Australia

WPL Auction Price: INR 1.4 crore

The world's no. 1 T20 batter Tahlia McGrath will have a monumental role for her team in the upcoming WPL season. The 27-year-old is renowned for her blitzkrieg batting prowess, but she will have to role her hands with the ball as well.

Tahlia's magnificent strike rate of around 142 has to be utilized by UP Warriorz, as the Australian may be used as a finisher. She can bowl but is not an accomplished bowler in the international arena, but has a knack for picking wickets.

5. Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz)

Country: England

WPL Auction Price: INR 1.8 crore

Sophie Ecclestone is mainly known for her bowling. Her slow left-arm spin is known for accuracy and miserly spells, and that can be crucial for the Warriorz in WPL.

Ecclestone was the highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup with 11 scalps to her name. And she will be aiming to replicate that in the UP colours. She can also hit the ball a long way and can be used as a finisher by the UP franchise. The 23-year-old is the most expensive overseas buy for UP Warriorz and there will be definitely a lot of eyes on her.

(Image Courtesy: ICC)

6. Marizanne Kapp (Delhi Capitals)

Country: South Africa

WPL Auction Price: INR 1.5 crore

Delhi Capitals formulated a fantastic squad for the WPL, and Proteas stalwart Marizanne Kapp will be one of the most important pieces of that zigsaw in the tournament.

The South African veteran is a fantastic bowler who can bat decently as well. Kapp, who has 76 T20I wickets to her name, was instrumental in South Africa's amazing run in the T20 World Cup, where they reached the final. She picked up 9 wickets and added some crucial runs with the bat in the semi-final against England.

Kapp, with all her experience and poise, is a fantastic addition for the Capitals. She is a wicket-taking option for them and can bat prudently across the positions. For DC, Kapp's primary role may well be bowling, while they can experiment the Sotuh African as a pinch hitter.