India’s vice-captain and star opener Smriti Mandhana isn’t having a good time with the bat as she failed to provide anything special for the team in the recently concluded Women’s 20-20 World Cup. India suffered a heartbreaking 5-run loss against Australia in the semifinal. However, now her focus will be on the inaugural season of the Women’s T20 League, which is set to kick off on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
The star left-hander was sold to the Bangalore-based franchise at a whopping price of INR 3.4 crores, and later the franchise named her as the skipper. Meanwhile, Mandhana became the centre of attraction when she was asked on which ground does she want a stand named after him (in Jio Cinema). She came up with a much-anticipated answer as she replied, Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, some didn’t like her answer and started trolling her on social media.
Mandhana made her first appearance in T20I in April 2013 against Bangladesh, and since then, she has established herself as one of the most talked-about batters in the Indian team. The women’s T20 League will give a boost to the growth of Women’s cricket, and Mandhana mentioned the same and said that this is a huge moment and history for women’s cricket.
“I was always glued to auctions of men whenever it used to happen. And it’s such a big moment for women’s cricket too, for us to have an auction of this sort. So really, I think this is just a history of the first announcement of Women’s T20 League and then definitely this auction,” Mandhana said on Sports18.
I hope that we both can together build a great team: Smriti Mandhana
Talking about her performance in the T20I format, Mandhana has played 112 matches and has scored 2651 runs at an average of 27.61 so far. Her highest score in the shortest format is 86 and she has 20 fifties to her name. Earlier, just after getting sold to Bangalore, she talked about her excitement about joining one of the biggest franchises with a huge fanbase around the world.
“I think the whole thing is exciting and I’m just saying it’s just an exciting time ahead. I think Bangalore have a big legacy as they have been in the Indian T20 League for more than a decade and it’s built a lot of big fanbases So, really excited to be, part of such a big franchise and I hope that we both can together build a great team,” she added.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Ek cup to jeetlo pehle.
— Shivastra (@shivastra_aryan) March 4, 2023
Ye to kuch jyada hi licking ho gyi franchise ki. I can't defend.
— Rohit.Bishnoi (@The_kafir_boy_2) March 3, 2023
— 🚩AV 🇮🇳 (@heretoroar) March 3, 2023
Kahi nahi banega baith jaao didi
— Milind (@Iam18milind) March 3, 2023
Choker player, choker ground
— Alpha (@alphamale_007_) March 3, 2023
Ha to kya wankhede bolegi 🤷♂️
— Rony (@lmaodedman) March 3, 2023
These chokers are shameless.
— Rahul (@Rahulgolu147) March 4, 2023
Humko ghanta farak nahi padta
— Rahul (@MostHatedName) March 3, 2023
