UP Warriorz send Danni Wyatt-Hodge to RCB in trade deal

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the talented all-rounder, has officially been traded from UP Warriorz (UPW) to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the defending champions of the WPL. This move comes ahead of the highly anticipated third season of the league, set to take place in early 2025. In a recent statement released by the WPL, it has been confirmed that Wyatt-Hodge will receive the same fee of INR 30 lakh that she was originally bought for at the last auction in December 2023. This news has generated excitement among fans, who are eager to see Wyatt-Hodge showcase her skills for RCB in the upcoming season.

Wyatt-Hodge, 33, is the third-most capped player in T20Is around the world, with 164 appearances for England, behind only Harmanpreet Kaur (177) and Suzie Bates (171), and has 2979 runs at an average of 22.91 and strike rate of 127.85 with two centuries and 16 half-centuries. She was also in good form at the recent T20 World Cup, top-scoring for England with 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and strike rate of 124.79.

She was not picked in the first WPL auction, when she had a base price of INR 50 lakh, and though she was acquired by UPW ahead of the second season, she didn't get to play a game as UPW finished fourth on the table and failed to make the playoffs. She is currently playing for Hobart Hurricanes at the WBBL in Australia.

"Danielle is a game-changer and a phenomenal athlete," RCB captain Smriti Mandhana said. "Her skills and competitive spirit align perfectly with our team's vision. We are excited to welcome her to the RCB and look forward to the energy she will bring to the squad."

Prior to WPL 2025, an auction is expected to take place, possibly in December, before which, sometime in early November, they are supposed to submit their list of retained players. Each team can have a maximum of 18 players, of which six can be overseas players. Last season, RCB had in their ranks Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Nadine de Klerk, Kate Cross, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham as the overseas contingent.