The much-awaited Women’s T20 League auction went underway today in Mumbai. Ahead of the event, there were many predictions as to who would be the highest-priced player. Smriti Mandhana, the Indian vice-captain, was one of the names that everyone expected to go big in the auction.
She went for a huge price, as expected, with the Bangalore team paying 3.4 crores for her. She was the first name to be auctioned off at the event, and both Mumbai and Bangalore put in strong bids for her. While Mumbai team owner Neeta Ambani was very keen on Mandhana’s services, Bangalore won the bidding war.
The 26-year-old has appeared in 112 games for India in the shortest format. She has 2651 T20I runs at a brilliant average of 27 and an outstanding strike rate of 123. The opening batter also has the potential to be Bangalore’s captain in the inaugural season.
This purchase by the Bangalore team created a huge wave of celebrations among fans on Twitter. Many users pointed out that both the players with jersey number 18, Virat Kohli and Mandhana, were with the Bangalore team. “OMG! This is Probably more than Babar Azam and Rizwan put together for PSL,” a user wrote. “Now we have both King and Queen of cricket,” another user wrote.
The Bangalore team also acquired a few more players early in the auction. They got Sophie Devine, the star New Zealander, for the base price of just 50 lakhs. This was a steal for the Bangalore team. They were in a bidding war with the Delhi team for Australia’s Ellyse Perry but eventually bought her for a price of 1.7 crores.
In the second round, they also bid for Renuka Singh, India’s emerging pacer, without much competition. The squad for the women in red already looks very strong, and they will look to get even more good players to their roster.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Smriti Mandhana’s purchase
Smriti Queen and King Kohli ??
— Samaira (@Samaira67) February 13, 2023
Now we have both King and Queen of cricket
— Vasu_AB17 (@VasupNaik5) February 13, 2023
Welcome to the goat franchise
— Cricket troll corner (@adityaraj2kfrek) February 13, 2023
Finally ??https://t.co/RPQwpOBkSd
— Mohit (@cric8holic) February 13, 2023
Mi should’ve put more, anyway get jemi and shafali
— Broncos 2022 (@2022_broncos) February 13, 2023
OMG ! This is Probably more than Babar Azam and Rizwan put together for PSL @_FaridKhan ? 3.4cr INR is almost 10cr PKR ?
— Bhav tweets (@Bhavin25996297) February 13, 2023
Smriti: pic.twitter.com/GzhU3RdAKz
— Ana de Armas stan (@abhithecomic) February 13, 2023
I think RCB women team shall lift the inaugural WPL Title.
As far as auction is concerned.— Maheswari Ramesh (@rameswari_4) February 13, 2023
Dono agye rcb ke paas
Most handsome indian cricketer and most beautiful indian cricketer— Rohit (@imr0hit_) February 13, 2023
