The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has become an important platform for young cricketers looking to establish themselves in professional cricket. Since its introduction in 2023, the tournament has given emerging Indian players opportunities to compete alongside international stars and demonstrate their skills under pressure.
Among the league’s individual honours, the Emerging Player of the Season award deserves special attention. It recognises a player who makes a notable impact during the tournament and signals the arrival of promising talent.
The WPL Emerging Player Award winners through the years include Yastika Bhatia, Shreyanka Patil, Amanjot Kaur and Nandni Sharma. Their achievements reflect different aspects of the game, from wicketkeeping and batting to spin bowling, all-round performances and fast bowling.
This article explores every winner from 2023 to 2026, their teams, their contributions and the significance of their achievements for the future of women’s cricket.
WPL Emerging Player Award Winners List From 2023 to 2026
The following table lists the Emerging Player of the Season winners from the first four WPL editions.
| Season | Award Winner | Team | Main Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Yastika Bhatia | Mumbai Indians | Batting and wicketkeeping |
| 2024 | Shreyanka Patil | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Spin bowling |
| 2025 | Amanjot Kaur | Mumbai Indians | Batting and all-round skills |
| 2026 | Nandni Sharma | Delhi Capitals | Fast bowling |
Four different players have won the award, representing three franchises. Each player made an impact in a different way, showing that emerging talent can influence matches through several roles.
The award also provides fans with an opportunity to follow the development of players who could become important figures in Indian and international cricket.
2023: Yastika Bhatia Wins the Inaugural Award
Yastika Bhatia became the first Emerging Player of the Season in WPL history in 2023 while representing Mumbai Indians.
A left-handed batter and wicketkeeper, Bhatia had already attracted attention through her performances in domestic cricket and for India. The inaugural WPL season gave her another opportunity to develop her game against high-quality opposition.
Her batting style combines an attacking mindset with the ability to build an innings. As a left-hander, she also provides variety to the batting order and can challenge bowlers who prefer a particular line or field setting.
Bhatia’s wicketkeeping skills added further value to her role. In T20 cricket, wicketkeepers contribute beyond their batting performances by maintaining concentration, supporting bowlers and creating opportunities through catches and stumpings.
Playing for Mumbai Indians also placed her in a competitive environment alongside experienced international cricketers. Such exposure can help a developing player improve decision-making, preparation and confidence.
Mumbai Indians went on to win the inaugural WPL title. Bhatia’s Emerging Player award became part of a successful first season for the franchise and helped establish the award as an important feature of the competition.
Why her achievement mattered: Bhatia became the first recipient of the award and demonstrated how young Indian batters could contribute to a championship-winning team.
2024: Shreyanka Patil Makes History for RCB
Shreyanka Patil won the Emerging Player of the Season award in 2024 after delivering an impressive bowling campaign for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Patil is an off-spin bowler who uses changes in pace, flight and trajectory to challenge batters. Her willingness to attack helped her become a valuable member of RCB’s bowling unit.
During the tournament, she demonstrated that young Indian bowlers could compete with established international players. Her ability to take wickets and maintain pressure made her an important option in the middle overs.
Patil’s achievement was particularly significant because she also won the Purple Cap, awarded to the season’s leading wicket-taker. She finished with 13 wickets, becoming the first Indian player to win that award in the WPL.
Winning both honours in the same season highlighted her impact. The Emerging Player award recognised her breakthrough, while the Purple Cap reflected her statistical success as a bowler.
RCB also secured their first WPL championship in 2024 by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final. Patil’s performances contributed to a memorable season for the franchise.
Her success provided an example for young cricketers hoping to progress from domestic competitions to major franchise leagues.
Why her achievement mattered: Patil combined individual recognition with a leading wicket-taking performance and played an important role in RCB’s first WPL title.
2025: Amanjot Kaur Earns Recognition With Mumbai Indians
Amanjot Kaur won the Emerging Player of the Season award in 2025 while playing for Mumbai Indians.
An Indian all-rounder, Amanjot offers flexibility through her batting and bowling. Players with multiple skills are especially valuable in T20 cricket because they allow teams to adjust their combinations according to the pitch, opposition and match situation.
Her batting gives the middle order another option when a team needs to rebuild an innings or accelerate towards the end. Her medium-pace bowling also provides a captain with an additional choice when managing the overs.
Amanjot’s award highlighted the importance of contributions that extend beyond a single statistical category. While leading run-scorers and wicket-takers receive attention for their totals, all-rounders can influence games through several smaller contributions.
Playing alongside experienced cricketers at Mumbai Indians offered her an opportunity to develop in a demanding competitive environment. The experience of preparing for different opponents and performing in high-pressure matches can be particularly valuable for a developing player.
Mumbai Indians won the 2025 WPL championship, making the season successful for the team as well as for Amanjot individually.
Her recognition also reinforced the value of versatile Indian players who can help their franchises balance batting and bowling resources.
Why her achievement mattered: Amanjot’s award highlighted the contribution of all-rounders and the importance of players who can adapt to different team requirements.
2026: Nandni Sharma Becomes Delhi Capitals’ Emerging Star
Nandni Sharma won the Emerging Player of the Season award in 2026 after an outstanding campaign for Delhi Capitals.
The right-arm fast bowler made a strong impression during her first WPL season. Her performances showed how pace bowling, accuracy and confidence can help an emerging player compete against experienced batters.
Nandni’s campaign was particularly notable for her wicket-taking ability. She finished with 16 wickets, placing her close to the top of the season’s bowling charts.
One of her standout performances came against Gujarat Giants, when she took five wickets for 33 runs and recorded a hat-trick. The spell established her as one of the season’s most exciting bowling prospects.
Taking a hat-trick requires a combination of skill and composure. A bowler must dismiss three consecutive batters without allowing the pressure of the moment to affect execution. Nandni’s achievement demonstrated her ability to deliver under challenging conditions.
She also helped Delhi Capitals reach the final, where they faced Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Although Delhi did not win the championship, Nandni’s individual campaign remained one of the season’s major stories.
Her performances highlighted the importance of identifying and developing domestic pace-bowling talent. A reliable fast bowler can give a team early breakthroughs, disrupt partnerships and provide an attacking option during the closing overs.
Why her achievement mattered: Nandni combined a five-wicket haul, a hat-trick and 16 wickets across the season, establishing herself as a promising fast-bowling talent.
Comparing the WPL Emerging Player Award Winners
The winners have contributed through different skills, making each season’s award story unique.
| Season | Winner | Team | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Yastika Bhatia | Mumbai Indians | First-ever Emerging Player award winner |
| 2024 | Shreyanka Patil | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Won both Emerging Player and Purple Cap awards |
| 2025 | Amanjot Kaur | Mumbai Indians | Recognised for her all-round abilities |
| 2026 | Nandni Sharma | Delhi Capitals | Took 16 wickets, including a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick |
The comparison reveals how the award has recognised different types of talent. Bhatia represented the importance of batting and wicketkeeping, while Patil demonstrated the value of attacking spin bowling.
Amanjot’s victory highlighted the flexibility of an all-rounder. Nandni’s success, meanwhile, brought attention to the potential of a young fast bowler capable of taking wickets in clusters.
These different achievements demonstrate that there is no single route to becoming an important player in the WPL. Technical ability, adaptability and the capacity to deliver in match situations can all create opportunities for emerging cricketers.
Why the Emerging Player Award Matters
The Emerging Player award is important because it recognises progress as well as performance. Young cricketers often need opportunities at the highest level to turn domestic promise into consistent professional results.
1. It Gives Young Players Visibility
The WPL attracts considerable attention from cricket fans and analysts. Strong performances in the competition can introduce developing players to a much wider audience.
2. It Encourages Domestic Talent
Indian domestic cricket produces players with a range of skills and playing styles. Recognition through the WPL can encourage young cricketers to continue improving and competing for higher-level opportunities.
3. It Creates Valuable Learning Opportunities
Playing alongside experienced international cricketers exposes emerging players to different approaches to training, preparation, tactics and match management.
4. It Highlights Multiple Playing Roles
The winners demonstrate that emerging talent is not limited to batters. Wicketkeepers, spinners, fast bowlers and all-rounders can all make a significant impact.
5. It Helps Build the Future of Indian Cricket
Young players who gain experience in demanding tournaments may become important contributors to their franchises and potentially to India’s senior teams.
Key Takeaways
- Yastika Bhatia won the inaugural WPL Emerging Player award in 2023 for Mumbai Indians.
- Shreyanka Patil received the award in 2024 while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
- Amanjot Kaur won the honour in 2025 for Mumbai Indians.
- Nandni Sharma became the 2026 winner after a breakthrough season with Delhi Capitals.
- Patil won both the Emerging Player award and Purple Cap in 2024.
- Nandni’s 2026 campaign included 16 wickets, a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick.
- The award has recognised batting, wicketkeeping, spin bowling, pace bowling and all-round ability.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the first WPL Emerging Player Award?
Yastika Bhatia of Mumbai Indians won the inaugural Emerging Player of the Season award in 2023.
2. Who won the WPL Emerging Player Award in 2024?
Shreyanka Patil won the 2024 award while representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
3. Who was the Emerging Player of the WPL in 2025?
Amanjot Kaur of Mumbai Indians received the Emerging Player of the Season award in 2025.
4. Who won the WPL Emerging Player Award in 2026?
Nandni Sharma of Delhi Capitals won the award in 2026 after taking 16 wickets during the season.
5. Can a bowler win both the Emerging Player award and the Purple Cap?
Yes, Shreyanka Patil achieved this distinction in 2024 by winning both awards for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The WPL Emerging Player Award winners through the years tell the story of developing talent making its mark on women’s franchise cricket. Yastika Bhatia began the list in 2023, Shreyanka Patil followed with a remarkable bowling campaign in 2024, Amanjot Kaur earned recognition for her versatility in 2025, and Nandni Sharma made headlines with her wicket-taking performances in 2026.
Their achievements show that emerging players can influence a tournament in many ways. Whether through batting, wicketkeeping, spin, pace or all-round contributions, these cricketers have demonstrated the value of preparation, confidence and consistent performance.
As the WPL continues to develop, the Emerging Player award will remain an important way to celebrate new talent and follow the next generation of women’s cricket stars.
