Smriti Mandhana to captain Royal Challengers Bangalore in inaugural WPL

The India batter and first player sold in the player auction is confirmed to skipper the team in a joint-announcement by Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis

Nick Howson | 18/02/2023 at 04:59

Royal Challengers Bangalore will be captained by Smriti Mandhana during the inaugural edition of the Women's Premier League.

The India batter was the first and most expensive addition during the auction earlier this month, joining the Diageo-owned franchise for 3.4 crore (£340,000).

She becomes the second captain announced for the first edition of the competition, with Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed to lead Mumbai Indians.

"I would like to thank the RCB management for giving me this amazing opportunity," said Mandhana, currently part of India's T20 World Cup campaign in South Africa.

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

"I am looking forward to receiving all the love and support from you fans. And I promise to you to give my 100 per cent to lead RCB to success in WPL."

Mandhana has led India on 11 occasions in T20Is - winning on six occasions - most recently against South Africa in January.

One of only two women with more than a century of outings for India in the shortened format, the 26-year-old is also the country's second-highest run-scorer.

mandhanas180202-min

Mandhana is currently in South Africa for India's T20 World Cup campaign (RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)

A regular in the Women's Big Bash League, the left-hander was this week confirmed to return to Southern Brave for The Hundred next summer.

The announcement was made on Saturday (February 18) via a social media video including current RCB men's captain Faf du Plessis and predecessor Virat Kohli.

Du Plessis added: "I am very confident that our women's captain has all the attributes to lead RCB."

RCB, whose head coach will be Ben Sawyer, get their campaign underway on March 5 against Delhi Capitals.