RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan expressed surprise and delight after Bengaluru signed Vrinda Dinesh for Rs 10 lakh at the WPL 2027 auction. The defending champions also added Jess Jonassen, Chloe Tryon and Tejal Hasabnis to strengthen their squad.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Malolan Rangarajan has expressed his happiness after the defending champions secured Indian batter Vrinda Dinesh for Rs 10 lakh at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction. Rangarajan admitted that he had not expected the franchise to sign the Bengaluru-born cricketer but said the opportunity to bring her into the squad was too valuable to miss.
RCB completed their auction business with four signings, adding Australia’s left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Jess Jonassen, South Africa’s batting all-rounder Chloe Tryon, Indian batter Tejal Hasabnis and Vrinda Dinesh. The additions are expected to strengthen the team’s spin-bowling resources, all-round depth and Indian batting options ahead of the upcoming season.
Jonassen was purchased for Rs 40 lakh, while Tryon and Hasabnis attracted bids of Rs 30 lakh each. Vrinda was signed for Rs 10 lakh, completing RCB’s four-player recruitment drive.
Speaking in a statement released by the franchise after the auction, Rangarajan said he was particularly pleased to bring Vrinda into the team because of her Bengaluru roots and performances for India A.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect us to land Vrinda, so I’m very happy that we’ve been able to bring a Karnataka-born player into the squad,” Rangarajan said.
He added that Vrinda had been performing exceptionally well for India A and that the franchise acted quickly when the opportunity to sign her emerged. Her inclusion provides RCB with another Indian batting option as they look to maintain their competitive edge in the 2027 WPL season.
Rangarajan also welcomed the signing of Chloe Tryon, highlighting the South African international’s experience in franchise cricket and her ability to contribute in multiple roles.
According to the coach, Tryon can strengthen the middle order by batting anywhere between No. 4 and No. 7. Her left-arm spin also provides the team with an additional bowling option, offering flexibility in team selection and match strategies.
Rangarajan said RCB were looking to create a balanced combination of experienced international players and younger cricketers aspiring to represent India at the highest level. He described Tryon as a valuable addition because of her established international career and familiarity with franchise tournaments, including the WPL environment.
RCB entered the auction with 13 retained players and a remaining purse of Rs 1.15 crore. Rangarajan explained that managing the available funds had been an important consideration, particularly because franchises did not receive an additional purse increase for the 2027 auction.
He also welcomed the return of Australian star Ellyse Perry, saying her presence would significantly strengthen the team’s batting lineup.
“Honestly, Perry coming back was huge for us. There was a void in our batting without her, but we have to give a lot of credit to our girls last year, who did well to counter her absence,” Rangarajan said.
He added that Perry’s return would provide RCB with a high-quality option at No. 3, helping restore an important component of their batting combination.
The coach also explained that releasing Grace Harris was partly a financial decision aimed at creating additional flexibility ahead of the auction. Harris had played an important role in RCB’s 2026 title-winning campaign but was subsequently bought by UP Warriorz for her base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Rangarajan noted that the absence of an annual increase in the auction purse made financial planning especially important. RCB therefore sought to maintain competitiveness while assembling a squad capable of defending their championship.
| Also Read: Shafali Verma Smashes 26-Ball Fifty as India Sweep Zimbabwe 3-0 |
The franchise’s 2027 squad includes captain Smriti Mandhana, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Richa Ghosh, Prathyoosha Kumar, Lauren Bell, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Jess Jonassen, Chloe Tryon, Tejal Hasabnis and Vrinda Dinesh.
With a combination of experienced international stars, established Indian players and emerging talent, RCB will aim to maintain their winning momentum in the upcoming WPL season. The addition of Vrinda, in particular, has pleased Rangarajan, who believes the young batter can add further depth to the defending champions’ batting resources.
