August 27th 2024.
Adelaide was buzzing with excitement as the news spread that Smriti Mandhana, one of the top players in women's cricket, had officially joined the Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming season of the Women's Big Bash League. This marked a historic moment as Mandhana became the first Indian player to sign a pre-draft overseas contract with the league.
This will be Mandhana's fourth team in the league's 10-year history, having previously played for Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunder. She made a strong impact in her previous seasons, but it was her incredible performance against Melbourne Renegades in WBBL 7 that really caught everyone's attention. She smashed an impressive 114 not out off just 64 balls, showcasing her incredible batting skills and a strike rate of 130. Her addition to the Strikers' roster is expected to bring a competitive edge and strengthen their batting lineup.
Mandhana is a highly decorated player in all formats, with two ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year awards under her belt. She is only the second player, alongside Australia's Ellyse Perry, to achieve this feat. This year, she also captained Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory in the Women's Premier League 2024 title, under the guidance of coach Luke Williams. In fact, Williams and Mandhana have a successful history together, having previously worked together at Southern Brave for The Hundred.
Expressing her excitement, Mandhana said, "I always look forward to playing in Australia, and I'm thrilled for the opportunity to contribute to a team with a strong track record like the Strikers. I'm also looking forward to working with Luke again, as our previous experiences have been so rewarding."
Williams also couldn't contain his enthusiasm about Mandhana joining the Strikers. "Smriti is an exceptional talent, and we are thrilled to have her on the team. Her technical skills, experience, and strategic insights will be a tremendous asset for us. I have personally witnessed her dedication and energy on and off the field, and I have no doubt that her expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we aim for success in the upcoming season."
In addition to Mandhana's signing, the Strikers have also made a pick trade with Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming WBBL|10 Draft. The Strikers have traded Picks 19 and 30 to the Renegades in exchange for Picks 22 and 27. It's clear that the Strikers are determined to build a strong and competitive team for the upcoming season.
The WBBL draft has attracted a total of 19 Indian women cricketers, including big names like Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemima Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma. Mandhana is already in Adelaide, and fans are eagerly waiting to see who else will join her in the Strikers' squad.
The first match of the WBBL 10 season will see the Adelaide Strikers take on Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval on October 27. It's going to be an exciting season for both the players and the fans, and all eyes will be on Mandhana and her fellow Indian players as they showcase their talent in the league. Here is the full list of Indian players nominated for the WBBL draft: Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemima Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Titas Sadhu, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Yastika Bhatia, Shikha Pandey, Sneh Rana, Hemalatha Dayalan, Sajana Sajeevan, Mannat Kashyap, Meghana Sabbineni, Veda Krishnamurthy, Mona Meshram, Meghna Singh.
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