Mumbai Indians Women have made a significant investment, acquiring rising star Gunalan Kamalini for INR 1.60 crore.
The young batter from Tamil Nadu is set to represent India in the upcoming Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia and has been turning heads with her stellar performances in domestic cricket.
Kamalini shone brightly in October’s U-19 domestic tournament, amassing 311 runs across eight matches and helping Tamil Nadu clinch the title.
She further impressed in the Under-19 tri-series final, scoring 79 runs for India B against South Africa A, earning her a spot in India’s squad for the Under-19 Asia Cup next week.
A product of the Super Kings Academy, run by IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings, Kamalini is more than just a batter—she also bowls part-time spin and has recently taken up wicketkeeping. Her father revealed her natural talent, “Nobody taught her how to bowl—she just picked it up naturally.”
Aarti Sankaran, former Tamil Nadu cricketer and Kamalini’s mentor, praised her potential, “Kamalini is a natural talent. She adapted to wicketkeeping in just six months and has the drive and work ethic to go far. Many fizzle out, but she’s here to stay.”
Mumbai Indians, who entered the auction with a budget of INR 2.65 crore, spent more than half on the Tamil Nadu prodigy.
They also picked up South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk for a bargain at INR 30 lakh, rounding out a promising roster for the upcoming season.