Tamil Nadu all-rounder G Kamalini has been signed by the Mumbai Indians at a whopping 1.60 crore in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) mini-auction in Bengaluru on Sunday.
The 16-year-old player who hails from Madurai in Tamil Nadu has been groomed by the Super Kings Academy in Chennai. Kamalini’s performances in the domestic tournaments have helped her graph go up, turning the most demanded player of various teams during the auction.
The base price for Kamalini was Rs. 10 lakh and it went up to Rs.1.60 crore. Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians fought the bidding and finally Mumbai Indians won the bid. "I am very happy that Kamalini was bought at the highest price during the bid. My daughter is currently playing in Malaysia for the Asia Cup," her mother, Saranya Gunalan.
Mumbai Indians' latest recruit G Kamalini lit up the Women's U-19 Asia Cup with some fireworks 🔥
— Women’s CricZone (@WomensCricZone) December 16, 2024
(via Sony Sports) | #WPLAuctionpic.twitter.com/g7keNS208M
Kamalini’s performance at the under19 tri-series final against South Africa s considered one of the best in her cricket. She scored 79 runs for India ‘B’. This innings and her outstanding performance helped her climb up in the Indian squad and get into the Under-19 Asia Cup 2024 being held in Malaysia. Her performance at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval in Kula Lumpur and the run chase against Pakistan giving just 44 runs in 29 balls helped her get the attention during the WPL auction.
"For Kamalini, it is talent combined with hard work," says Louis Mariano, Director of Cricket, Super Kings Academy.
"After playing in the nets they would immediately ask me to do the drills. My coaches trained me mentally to prepare myself for the matches. They found my minute mistakes, day by day, by shooting videos and giving me practice in the nets," Kamalini says.
An all-rounder, she is a left-handed batter, wicket-keeper and can also bowl leg spin. A left-handed batter in the middle order, she was always looked at as an option for Yastika Bhatia in the Mumbai Indians team. Kamalini is the second-highest scorer in the Under-19 category. She has scored 311 runs in eight matches, making Tamil Nadu bag a massive victory in the Under-19 Women’s T20 trophy in October this year. With her left-hand batting skills, she managed to score 10 huge sixes during the T20 tournament."This is because of the support and the rigorous training she received from the Super Kings Academy and her coaches. She is hardworking and loved cricket from her childhood," says Sarala.
