Bengaluru/UNI: Royal Challengers Bangalore announced Smriti Mandhana as the captain of the womens team ahead of the inaugural Womens Premier League (WPL) 2023.
The left-handed India batter Smriti Mandhana was signed in the recent auction held in Mumbai for INR 3.40 crore, the highest price for a player in the WPL auction.
On announcing Smriti Mandhana as the captain, Prathmesh Mishra, Chairman RCB, said: Smriti is central to our Play Bold philosophy and cricketing plans. We have handed her the leadership role, and we are confident that Smriti will lead RCB into greater heights.
On her role as the RCB womens team captain, Smriti Mandhana said: It is 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. I promise you to give my 100% to lead RCB to success in WPL
Smriti Mandhana is a premier batter in womens cricket and has made a massive impact in the T20 format over the last decade. An opener, Smriti has made 2661 runs from 113 WT20Is, averaging 27.15 and with a strike-rate of 123.19.
Faf du Plessis, the RCB mens team captain, welcomed women to the Play Bold fold, and said: Its been a great couple of months for RCB, firstly getting a Womens Cricket team and then assembling a really strong team. I am very confident that our Womens team Captain has all the attributes to lead RCB. All the very best Smriti Mandhana, see you at the games.
Smriti has also been a much-sought-after player in the T20 circuit, making appearances for Brisbane Heat, Sydney Thunder (Womens BBL), Western Storm (Kia Super League) and Southern Brave (The Hundred).
Smriti is also a highly decorated player, recently winning the ICC Women Cricketer Of The Year, for scoring 855 runs in 22 matches in 2021. She is also an Arjuna Award winner in 2018.
