Shreyanka Patil and Shikha Pandey will return to the WCPL

With the 2025 season scheduled to start on September 6, all-arounders Shreyanka Patil and Shikha Pandey will be returning to the Women’s Caribbean Premier League.

Patil, who has been sidelined since the 2024 T20 World Cup due to a shin injury, is currently recovering from a fractured hand. She was drafted by the two-time champion Barbados Royals, who are aiming for a “three-peat.” Patil previously played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. After a great season the previous year, Pandey has been retained by the Trinbago Knight Riders.

The Royals, captained by Hayley Matthews, have won consecutive championships and have kept Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, and Aaliyah Alleyne in their core. For the first time, Kycia Knight will be welcomed to her home franchise. Along with Australia’s Courtney Webb, Sri Lankan opener Chamari Athapaththhu and Australian wicketkeeper Georgia Redmayne will return.

The Knight Riders, who finished second in 2024, will have a young team led by veteran Deandra Dottin that includes players as young as 21 years old, including Jahzara Claxton, Zaida James, Jannillea Glasgow, and Samara Ramnath. Abigail Bryce, Rashada Williams, and Shabika Gajnabi will all contribute their experience.Along with Pandey, Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen will return, and the squad has strengthened their offensive line with the addition of Lizelle Lee, who is playing in her first WCPL. The TKR team has also selected Salonee Dangore, an up-and-coming legspinner.

Experienced players like Stafanie Taylor, Karishma Ramharack, and Shermaine Campbelle have been retained by Guyana, the 2025 edition’s hosts, while South African sprinter Shabnim Ismail will make a comeback for her third season. For the third straight season, Laura Harris will also play for the team that has recruited Madeline Penna, another Australian legspinning all-rounder, to their roster.

To select the finalists, each of the three teams will play the two opponents twice in a double round-robin style. The championship match, which is set for September 17 at the Guyana National Stadium, will include the top two teams.