Gujarat Giants' star acquisition, uncapped all-rounder Kashvee Gautam, has been sidelined for the season due to an injury. Kashvee, the costliest uncapped player in the history of the WPL auction, was acquired for a record INR 2 crore, making her absence a considerable setback for the team. Sayali Satghare steps in as her replacement, secured at a reserve price of INR 10 lakh.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) also face a similar predicament with their spin all-rounder, Kanika Ahuja, being ruled out due to injury. Shraddha Pokharkar, a promising left-arm seamer from Maharashtra, has been called up to fill Ahuja's shoes, also at a reserve price of INR 10 lakh.
Kashvee Gautam's withdrawal is particularly impactful for the Giants, following her remarkable performance in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, where she claimed 12 wickets across seven games with an impressive economy rate of 4.14. Her contributions extended beyond domestic circuits, representing India A against England A and playing a vital role in India's Under-23 squad's victory at the ACC Emerging tournament in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Kanika Ahuja's absence also leaves a gap in RCB's lineup, given her contributions in the previous WPL season where she scored 98 runs and took 2 wickets. Her all-round prowess was also on display during the ACC Emerging tournament final against Bangladesh.