The league phase of the Women’s Big Bash League 10 (WBBL 10) is over, and the knockouts are set to begin. Melbourne Renegades finished at the top of the table with 14 points and a better net run rate (NRR) of +0.527, earning them the right to host the final. Brisbane Heat also ended with 14 points but had a lower NRR, so they finished second and will play in the Challenger.
The winner of the knockout game between Sydney Thunder (third place) and Hobart Hurricanes (fourth place) will face the Heat in the Challenger.
Melbourne Stars had a tough season, finishing last with just two wins from 10 games. Out of the six Indian players in the league, only two—Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey—remain in contention as both play for Heat.
In the last edition, Heat were runners-up. Whether they can go one step further this time remains to be seen. Here is the weekly recap of how the Indian players have performed:
Smriti Mandhana – Adelaide Strikers
In her last two games against the Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers, Mandhana scored a combined total of 47 runs. However, she finished the tournament on a high with a 41-run knock against the Scorchers. Her opening partnership of 81 runs in just 9.4 overs set a strong platform for the Strikers.
The team posted a competitive total of 169 runs and went on to win the match by 30 runs. This victory marked only their third win of the season. The Strikers ended a disappointing campaign with seven points from 10 games. Mandhana scored 144 runs in five matches at an average of 28.80 and an impressive strike rate of 142.57, including a half-century.
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Jemimah Rodrigues – Brisbane Heat
Jemimah is one of the two Indian players who will feature in the knockout stage of the tournament. She has shown great consistency throughout the competition. In the last group game against the Sydney Sixers, her team needed a big win to boost their net run rate and finish at the top. Although they fell short of the required margin, they still won the game in 17 overs while chasing 141 runs.
Jemimah played a crucial role in the chase, scoring 39 off just 22 balls at a strike rate of 177.27. Her aggressive innings helped the team race to 58 runs in just 6.5 overs. So far, Jemimah has scored 223 runs in eight matches, averaging 31.85 with a strike rate of 142.03, including one half-century.
Shikha Pandey – Brisbane Heat
Shikha is another Indian player who has played a key role for the Heat and is now preparing for the Challenger. She has been outstanding with the ball, taking 12 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 6.68.
In the last group game against the Sydney Sixers, she showcased her skills once again by dismissing Maitlan Brown. Shikha has been a reliable performer for her team in all phases of the game, delivering consistently throughout the tournament.
Yastika Bhatia – Melbourne Stars
Yastika’s journey in the tournament came to an unfortunate end after she was ruled out due to a wrist fracture. Before her injury, she scored 154 runs in six matches, with an average of 25.66 and a strike rate of 104.76.
Deepti Sharma – Melbourne Stars
It was a season to forget for the Melbourne Stars, both as a team and individually for India’s star all-rounder, Deepti. With the bat, Deepti managed only 65 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 85.52, without hitting a single six.
Her struggles extended to bowling as well, where she took just two wickets in six innings at an economy rate of 8.30. Deepti’s lack of form was a significant factor in the Stars finishing at the bottom of the table, with only five points from 10 games.
Dayalan Hemalatha – Perth Scorchers
After a promising comeback against Sydney Thunder, it seemed that Dayalan might build some momentum. However, she struggled again, managing only 18 runs in her last three games.
Overall, she scored just 99 runs in eight matches, with an average of 12.37 and a strike rate of 110.00. Despite getting multiple opportunities to bat at number three, Dayalan will likely be disappointed with her performances in the tournament.