With a 3.4 crore bid from the RCB, Smriti Mandhana becomes the most expensive player in the WPL

14-02-2023 : Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has become the most expensive player at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in Mumbai. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team picked her up for INR 3.4 crore, making her the most expensive purchase in the league’s history. The left-handed opener is now set to earn more than double the highest-paid players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Mandhana, who plays for the Indian women’s national team and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL, was the first player to come up for bidding at the auction, with a base price of INR 50 lakh. RCB and Mumbai Indians were in a fierce competition for her services, but RCB ultimately won the bid and acquired her services, offering her an opening and a captaincy option.

Mandhana is widely regarded as one of the best batters in women’s cricket. In June 2018, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named her the Best Women’s International Cricketer. In December of the same year, she won the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year, given by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Mandhana was also nominated for the ICC Women’s T20 Player of the Year in December 2021, along with three other players – Tammy Beaumont, Lizelle Lee, and Gaby Lewis. In January 2022, she was awarded the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

At the WPL auction, Mandhana’s impressive track record made her a top choice for many teams. RCB’s INR 3.4 crore deal for her was a clear indication of the team’s confidence in her abilities. It was also a testament to the growing popularity and success of women’s cricket in India.

Mandhana’s success is not only limited to the field. She has been a vocal advocate for women’s cricket in India and has been instrumental in promoting the game in the country. In a recent interview, she spoke about the challenges of being a female athlete in India and the need for greater support and recognition for women’s cricket.

Her success has also inspired a new generation of young women cricketers in the country. Her rise to the top of the game has shattered many stereotypes and paved the way for more women to pursue careers in cricket.

Mandhana’s acquisition by RCB is not only a major win for the team but also for women’s cricket in India. It shows that women’s cricket is gaining the recognition and support it deserves, and that women’s cricketers are as valuable and talented as their male counterparts.

 Smriti Mandhana’s INR 3.4 crore deal with the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Women’s Premier League auction in Mumbai is a testament to her exceptional skills as a cricketer and the growing popularity and success of women’s cricket in India. Her success has not only inspired a new generation of young women cricketers but has also helped in promoting the game in the country. It is a major win not only for RCB but also for women’s cricket in India.

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