In the first set of the WPL Auction, the names of Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and superstar batter Smriti Mandhana were chosen. At the auction, Mandhana joined Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a staggering INR 3.4 million.
In Monday’s inaugural WPL Auction at the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana sparked a bidding war. Mandhana will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the inaugural Women’s Premier League after suffering an injury and missing the high-voltage match between India and Pakistan at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa.
In the first set of the WPL Auction, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and superstar batter Mandhana were drawn. Mumbai Indians started the bidding on the swashbuckling batter before RCB made an improved offer and joined the race. MI raised the ante once more to take the bidding war over the 2 crore mark, eager to sign the Indian opener. At the auction, RCB signed Mandhana for a whopping 3.4 crore rupees, defeating Mumbai in a fierce bidding war.
Indian players congratulated Mandhana after the star batter was recruited by RCB for the upcoming Women’s Premier League Auction season, watching the drama unfold at the auction. Members of the Harmanpreet-led side chanted “RCB” in the viral video that was shared on Twitter. When Mandhana won the auction and became the first-ever WPL player, the positive reaction of Indian cricketers quickly became the talk of the internet. After Mandhana became an RCB player at the auction, the Team India stars responded in the following manner:
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Here we go 🔥 Fireworks on the first ball itself! 🎇
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 13, 2023
Smriti Mandhana goes for INR 3.40CR to #RCB #WPLAuction
Mandhana, one of the best modern openers, has represented Team India in 77 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 112 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). At the Reliance Stadium in 2013, the 26-year-old made her international debut against Bangladesh Women.
“We have been watching the men’s auction. This kind of auction is such a significant occasion for women. Everything about it is demanding. RCB has left a significant legacy and amassed a large following. I hope we can work together to form a large team. After signing with RCB to compete in the lucrative league, Mandhana declared, “Namaskara Bengaluru, excited to wear the red and gold and aim for the cup.”
