Virat Kohli Made The Big Announcement: Royal Challengers Bangalore have finally announced senior India batter Smriti Mandhana as their captain for the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL). The franchise confirmed the development via its official social media platforms on Saturday. RCB shared a video message featuring Indian batting maestro and former RCB captain Virat Kohli and the current captain of RCB, Faf du Plessis.
Mandhana, who is also the vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, is hailed as one of the most talented batters in the world. She has become an integral part of the Indian cricket team and has done wonders at the top of the order. She can make any stadium come alive with her batting heroics as much as she does with her stunning looks.
Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired her services for a whopping sum of ₹3.4 crores after an intense bidding war at the WPL 2023 auction.
Virat Kohli Announced RCB’s Captain For WPL 2023
“Now it’s time for another Number 18 to lead a very special RCB team in the Women’s Premier League. Yes, we are talking about Smriti Mandhana. Go well Smriti, you will have the support of the best team and the best fans in the World,” Kohli said in the announcement video.
RCB men’s team’s captain Faf du Plessis further added, “I’m very confident that our women’s captain has all the attributes to lead RCB. All the very best, Smriti Mandhana. See you at the games.”
“From one No. 18 to another, from one skipper to another, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis announce RCB’s captain for the Women’s Premier League – Smriti Mandhana,” RCB wrote on Twitter while announcing their new captain for WPL.
Watch the video:
From one No. 18 to another, from one skipper to another, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis announce RCB’s captain for the Women’s Premier League – Smriti Mandhana. #PlayBold #WPL2023 #CaptainSmriti @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/sqmKnJePPu
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 18, 2023
The newly-appointed captain of the RCB’s WPL team also had a few words to say as she thanked the RCB team management for trusting her with the leadership role. She said:
“I would like to thank RCB management for giving me this amazing opportunity. I’m looking forward to receiving all the love and support from you fans, who I’m told are the best in the world. And I promise you to give my 100% to lead RCB to success in WPL,”
Talking about Smriti’s numbers in the shortest format of the game, the stylish batter has scored 2651 runs in 108 innings at an average of 27.33 and a strike rate of 122. She also has 20 half-centuries in T20 Internationals.
