Sania Mirza appointed as team mentor of Royal Challengers Bangalore in WPL 2023

Indian tennis legend Sania Mirza has been appointed as the team mentor of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023, the franchise announced on Wednesday.

Recently, Sania announced her decision to retire from professional tennis prior to the Australian Open, where she and her partner Rohan Bopanna finished runners-up in the mixed doubles.

36-year-old Sania is expected to join the squad after the conclusion of the ATP Dubai Open, which is likely to be her last professional tournament.

“Be it cricket or tennis, athletes are made of the same grain, fiercely competitive, love their sport and face pressure situations in their game. Sania Mirza has done just that for 20 years across her illustrious career of 6 Grand Slams & 43 WTA Titles,” RCB said in a media release.

As per RCB, Sania, who is a winner of six grand slams, is one of the leading role models for many women across the country and that prompted the team management to onboard her to motivate and encourage the women’s team.

While our coaching staff handle the cricket side of things, we couldn’t think of anyone better to guide our women cricketers about excelling under pressure.

Join us in welcoming the mentor of our women's team, a champion athlete and a trailblazer! 🙌

Namaskara, Sania Mirza! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/r1qlsMQGTb

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 15, 2023

“It is a pleasure for me to join the RCB women’s team as a mentor. Indian women’s cricket has seen a tectonic shift with the Women’s Premier League, and I am really looking forward to being a part of this revolutionary pitch. RCB and its brand philosophy perfectly resonates with my vision and outlook as that’s how I have approached my playing career and it’s also how I see contributing to sports post my retirement,” said Sania.

“RCB has been a popular team and much followed team in the IPL over the years. I am immensely happy to see them building a team for the Women’s Premier League as it will push the women’s sports to new heights in the country, open new doors to women cricketers and help make sports the first career choice for young girls and young parents with a girl child,” she added.

Meanwhile, Head and Vice President of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajesh V Menon, said that Mirza, who has been honoured with Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, is the perfect role model for all the young women who looks up to her as an inspiration.

“We are glad and honoured to welcome Sania Mirza as mentor of the RCB women’s team. She is the perfect role model with her success stemming out of her sheer hard work, passion, and determination, despite many challenges in her playing career,” said Menon.

“Sania is someone our young generation looks up to and she can motivate, encourage our team as she herself has been an uber competitive player who understands how to overcome challenges and handle pressure at various situations at the highest level of sports. Her stature and gravitas as well as her attitude will inspire and bring the much needed panache to transform the team with a Bold Personality,” she added.

At the inaugural WPL auction on Monday, RCB formed a team that is a good mix of the world’s top and most talented 18 players.

The franchise bought star batter and India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana at a whopping price of INR 3.40 CR, which turned out to be the most expensive buy at the auction. They also picked Indian wicket-keeper batter and powerful hitter Richa Ghosh along with some famous international players like the Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry and medium-pacer Megan Schutt, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, England captain Heather Knight and South African all-rounder Dane Van Niekerk.