Lea Tahuhu has been named by the Gujarat Giants to replace Lauren Cheatle in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, which kicks off on February 23. Gujarat will offer the right-arm fast bowler a contract worth INR 30 lakh. For the national team, the 33-year-old has claimed 78 and 109 wickets in 80 T20Is and 93 ODIs, respectively.
Due to a recent neck surgery, Australian left-arm pacer Cheatle will not be available for the upcoming WPL season. The Giants signed the 25-year-old for a base price of INR 30 lakh in the 2024 WPL player auction.
Lea Tahuhu has been named by the Gujarat Giants (GG) to replace Lauren Cheatle in the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, which is scheduled to begin on February 23, 2024, according to a statement from the WPL.
“After a medical procedure, our Australian pacer Lauren Cheatle will miss the upcoming WPL season. Our thoughts are with her.” We hope she heals quickly,” the Gujarat Giants posted on X.
Our thoughts are with our Australian pacer, Lauren Cheatle, who will miss the upcoming WPL season following a medical procedure.
We’re rooting for her swift recovery. 🧡
📸 – Cricket Australia #BringItOn #GujaratGiants #Adani pic.twitter.com/EkKUFlr3Du
— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) February 1, 2024
Lauren Cheatle leaves WPL 2024 following surgery for skin cancer
Lauren Cheatle left the 2024 WPL after having skin cancer removed surgically. According to a statement released by her Australian domestic side, New South Wales, earlier this month, she will also miss the remainder of the domestic season. The 25-year-old had a similar procedure done on her back in 2021 when she had skin cancer removed from her leg.
The bowler, who had also battled shoulder problems for the previous four years, didn’t actually return to the Australian team until December 2023, when she took part in an exhibition Test match in India that ended with an eight-wicket loss for the visitors. After the off-season break, Cheatle is most likely to resume pre-season training with her home team.