WPL Auction: Smriti Mandhana likely to captain RCB

RCB strike a good balanceBENGALURU: Months before the formal announcement of the Women's Premier League (WPL) in January this year, Royal Challengers Bangalore started to prepare their blueprint. Talent scouts were added to the existing team and from October 2022 they travelled across the country for leagues and BCCI domestic tournaments. The hard yards and the planning reflected in the assemblage they put together on Monday for the inaugural edition.At the auction table in Mumbai, the think-tank led by Mike Hesson, RCB's director of cricket operations, were in T20 mode and stretched their purse to snap up India vice-captain and top-order bat Smriti Mandhana for a whopping Rs. 3.4 crore.

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Smriti Mandhana had to sit out of India's thrilling win over Pakistan in their Women's T20 World Cup opener because of an injury but her mood must have surely lifted on Monday when she emerged as the top pick in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction held in Mumbai.

Smriti serves the dual purpose of batting versatility and leadership experience, and as Hesson admitted, she is the team's likely choice of skipper."Smriti has plenty of captaincy experience. She knows the conditions well, so it is highly likely (that she will captain the team). Like any leadership group, you need senior players around to contribute and we have highly experienced international players," said the New Zealander. The Bengaluru-based franchise has struck a good balance between homegrown talent and overseas expertise. First up, they have slotted Indian internationals in key positions. While Smriti holds together the top-order, the power-hitting wicket keeper-batter Richa