India vice captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Smriti Mandhana batted for a a multi-city format for the upcoming Women’s Premier League in order to attract more eyeballs to women’s cricket.
“It would be great to have WPL in the multi-city format. I think that might be the next step and I am sure the people right here would look into it and make it happen. As an RCB fan, I would love to play in Chinnaswamy where people are chanting ‘RCB RCB’ and just to be in that environment. That is something which is one step ahead for us that it (multi-city format) can reach to places where women’s cricket hasn’t reached and to get new audience going into women’s cricket,” Mandhana said at the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru.
With the WPL auction just a few days away, Mandhana talked about investing in the right players. “A lot of thoughts have gone into what kind of combinations we need in terms of releases or retention. So we are really looking forward to the WPL auctions and hopefully, we get the players who we are looking forward to getting,” she said.
The Leader of our Women’s Team at the #RCBxLeaders 🤝
Smriti spoke about how the #WPL has changed the landscape of women’s cricket and is a platform for upcoming talents 🗣️#PlayBold #RCBxLeaders #OurRCB #RCB #WomensCricket @LeadersBiz @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/S72k9gECTi
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) November 29, 2023
RCB who were early favourites to lift the crown last season had a tournament to forget with a 4th placed finish and it has reflected in the release list with the franchise having let go of the likes of Dane van Niekerk and Megan Schutt.
Meanwhile, West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin and Ireland’s Kim Garth have been slotted in the top bracket of players for the upcoming WPL auction to be held on December 9 in Mumbai.
“Rs 50 Lakhs is the highest reserve price with 2 players – Deandra Dottin and Kim Garth – choosing to be slotted in the top bracket,” stated a BCCI press release. Four players have been categorized into the 40 Lakhs bracket.
The first edition of the tournament started on March 4 and finished on March 26 of this year. However, with the next season of IPL scheduled to begin by mid March, the WPL could begin as early as February.
