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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has named Smriti Mandhana as the captain of their team for the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023, on Saturday.
Earlier at the inaugural WPL auction that was held on February 13 in Mumbai, India vice-captain Mandhana was the first player that came up for bidding and she eventually turned out to be the most expensive player as RCB bought her for a whopping price of INR 3.40 Crore (USD 415,000 approx).
The announcement was made on Saturday through a video shared on social media, which had messages from Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis – the former and current captains of the men’s team respectively in the IPL.
From one No. 18 to another, from one skipper to another, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis announce RCB’s captain for the Women’s Premier League – Smriti Mandhana. #PlayBold #WPL2023 #CaptainSmriti @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/sqmKnJePPu
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 18, 2023
“From one No. 18 to another, from one skipper to another, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis announce RCB’s captain for the Women’s Premier League – Smriti Mandhana,” the franchise wrote on Twitter.
“A captain isn’t just a leader of the group but he is someone who creates a culture and carries the legacy forward by earning the respect of everyone around him. Faf did a tremendous job last year leading the side and helping each and every individual around him to grow and excel under his leadership. I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing under him,” said Kohli.
Du Plessis, the RCB men’s team captain, welcomed Mandhana and said, “It’s been a great couple of months for RCB, firstly getting a women’s cricket team and then also assembling a really strong squad at the auction. And now it’s time to reveal the first women captain of RCB for this year’s Women’s Premier League.
“I also realised, what an incredible privilege it is to captain RCB. What an incredible franchise and so much history and great players who walked through those dressing rooms. Not only do you captain the 11 on the field, but you are also the torchbearer for so many more fans out there inside Bangalore and over the whole of India.”
“Now it’s time for another No. 18 to lead a very special RCB Team in the Women’s Premier League. Yes! we are talking about Smriti Mandhana. Go well Smriti. You will have the support of the best team and the best fans in the world,” added Kohli.
“I am very confident that our Women’s team captain has all the attributes to lead RCB. All the very best Smriti Mandhana, see you at the games,” Faf added.
Speaking about her role as the RCB women’s team captain, Smriti Mandhana said, “It’s such a great feeling to see Virat and Faf speak so much about leading RCB and I would like to thank RCB management for giving me this amazing opportunity.
“I am looking forward to receiving all the love and support from you fans who I am told are the best in the World and I promise you to give my 100% to lead RCB to success in WPL,” she concluded.
Mandhana has moved from strength to strength in the last decade in women’s cricket and has been excellent in the T20 format. In her 113 WT20Is, Mandhana has scored 2661 runs, averaging 27.15 at a strike rate of 123.19, hitting twenty half-centuries.
Mandhana is a player who has been highly demanded in the T20 leagues. She has represented Brisbane Heat and Sydney Thunder in the Women’s BBL, Western Storm in the Kia Super League and Southern Brave in The Hundred.
She won ICC Women’s Cricketer Of The Year, for scoring 855 runs in 22 matches in 2021 and also won Arjuna Award in 2018.
26-year-old Mandhana has captained India in 11 T20Is, out of which they have won six games and lost five games. She was also the captain of Trailblazers at the Women’s T20 Challenge in all four seasons and led her side to win the title in 2020.
RCB has made a strong squad for the inaugural WPL starting from March 4. Star players like Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Heather Knight and Dane van Niekerk are in the squad. RCB will play their first game against the Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, on March 5.
The entire edition of the WPL will be played across two venues – Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The final will be played on March 26 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
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