Nita Ambani is EXCITED about THIS 16-year-old cricketer bought for Rs 16000000
Mumbai Indians had an impressive outing the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 mini auction in Bengaluru on Sunday. Nadine de Klerk, G Kamalini, Sanskriti Gupta and Akshita Maheshwari were the players acquired by the Reliance-owned franchise.
Teenager Kamalini was the most expensive signing for MI, with the Tamil Nadu all-rounder costing the side Rs. 1.60 crore to the five-time Indian Premier League-winning franchise.
Nita M. Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians and wife of Reliance group owner Mukesh Ambani, expressed her satisfaction with the team Mumbai Indians have assembled for the WPL 2025 season while also outlining the team’s vision and wanting to back youngsters.
Speaking after the auction in Bengaluru on Sunday, Nita Ambani, said, “We are all very happy and satisfied with the team we have assembled today. Auctions are exciting and emotional at the same time. I am so proud of all the girls who have participated in the auction today and all the girls who have now become part of the Mumbai Indians family: G Kamalini, Nadine de Klerk, Sanskriti Gupta and Akshita Maheshwari.”
Scouted, planned, and hit at the #TATAWPL Auction! #AaliRe #TATAWPLAuction #MumbaiIndians
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 16, 2024
Mumbai Indians also managed to add the highly rated and much coveted G Kamalini to the roster. The 16-year-old from Tamil Nadu made her India U19 debut against Pakistan U19s earlier in the day in the U19 Asia Cup. Talking about her signing, Nita Ambani, said, “This year we are very excited about the 16-year-old Kamalini. Our scouts have been tracking her for some time and she is a very exciting new talent to look out for. So, in all, a satisfying day at the auction.”
The Tamil Nadu southpaw has the ability to hit massive sixes and was the second-highest run-getter (311 runs in 8 matches) in the Under-19 T20 tournament which Tamil Nadu won. Kamalini, a wicketkeeper-batter like MS Dhoni who can also bowl leg-spin, has had rigorous training at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai.
There was a fierce battle for Kamalini between Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals franchises after starting from base price of Rs 10 lakh.
Nita Ambani welcomed the four new players with a message, saying, “We warmly welcome you to the Mumbai Indians family. Mumbai Indians has always tried to scout, nurture and develop young talent. We have done this with our men’s team, and it is a proud feeling to see Bumrah, Hardik and now Tilak representing India on the global stage. We are trying to do the same thing with our girls too. Last year, we picked Sajana up in the auction. It’s wonderful to see her now playing for Team India.”
Mumbai Indians are the inaugural champions in the WPL and added four players to complete the 18-member squad by getting South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk and Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Sanskriti Gupta and Rajasthan pacer Akshita Maheshwari in addition to Kamalini.