Ayushi Soni becomes first player to be retired out in WPL

Ayushi Soni became the first player to be retired out in the WPL during Gujarat Giants' innings against Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday.

Soni came in to bat at No. 6 and struggled to get going. She was on 11 off 14 and hadn't hit a single boundary when Giants retired her out at the end of the 16th over and the score reading 135.

This was only the second instance of a player being retired out in a women's franchise T20 league, with the previous instance of Kathryn Bryce being retired out for Manchester Originals against Northern Superchargers in the Hundred in 2024.

Soni was making her WPL debut and was drafted into GG's XI in place of Anushka Sharma, who had played in their first two matches of the season. Anushka has been ruled out for a "short period" after sustaining a minor injury while fielding during their win over Delhi Capitals.

Bharti Fulmali, who walked in after Soni was retired out, was given out lbw on the first two balls she faced, only to be saved by successful reviews. She then went on to smash an unbeaten 36 off 15 with three fours and three sixes as her 56-run stand with Georgia Wareham powered GG to 192 for 5.

Thirteen days into the calendar year, there have already been six retired outs in men's T20s, including two in the same innings in the Super Smash. One of the big ones recently was Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan being retired out by Melbourne Renegades against Sydney Thunder in the BBL on Monday.