There was an intriguing contrast to how Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore approached the first-ever Women’s Premier League auction. RCB came out swinging, they went as far as INR 3.4 Crore for Smriti Mandhana, the first player to be auctioned and then picked up the baton again when Harmanpreet Kaur’s name came up next. It was a brave strategy considering it’d have taken up a significant portion of their budget, but they didn’t go all the way. Delhi Capitals were in the mix for Harmanpreet too, but MI beat them to it.
By the time DC snapped up Jemimah Rodrigues for INR 2.2 Crore as their first signing, RCB had four – including Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine. In an auction characterised by uncertainty, RCB attacked at the top while DC hit through the middle. Interestingly, come Sunday (March 5), DC can flip the mindset on the field with two top-order batters in Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning – both with an eerily identical T20I strike rate of 132.11 – and target the PowerPlay.
With a possible top-three of Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry, RCB could match DC for the early pyrotechnics. Mandhana’s side will particularly hope for a fast start as the early schedule isn’t kind on them – after an afternoon game on Sunday, they play an evening fixture immediately on Monday.
When: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals, March 5, 3:30 PM IST
Where: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
Team News:
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The early challenge for RCB lies with the bowling department. Their Indian and domestic contingent have the opportunity to impress the captain in the cramped fixtures in their quest to become regular features in the top-heavy side.
Probable XI:
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- , Sophie Devine,
- Ellyse Perry,
- Dane van Niekerk/Heather Knight,
- Disha Kasat, Richa Ghosh (wk),
- Kanika Ahuja, Megan Schutt,
- Preeti Bose/Sahana Pawar,
- Renuka Thakur,
- Komal Zanzad
Delhi Capitals
With Mandhana being the only left-hander in the RCB top-order, DC can attack with two left-arm spinners in Jess Jonnasen and Radha Yadav.
Probable XI:
- Shafali Verma,
- Jasia Akhtar,
- Jemimah Rodrigues,
- Meg Lanning (c)
- Marizanne Kapp,
- Alice Capsey/Laura Harris,
- Taniya Bhatia (wk),
- Jess Jonassen,
- Radha Yadav,
- Shikha Pandey,
- Poonam Yadav
Squads:
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women Squad: Smriti Mandhana(c), Dane van Niekerk, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Sophie Devine, Erin Burns, Richa Ghosh(w), Megan Schutt, Renuka Thakur Singh, Disha Kasat, Komal Zanzad, Kanika Ahuja, Shreyanka Patil, Preeti Bose, Sahana Pawar, Poonam Khemnar, Asha Shobana, Indrani Roy
Delhi Capitals Women Squad: Taniya Bhatia(w), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning(c), Alice Capsey, Laura Harris, Jasia Akhtar, Shikha Pandey, Marizanne Kapp, Sneha Deepthi, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Jess Jonassen, Titas Sadhu, Aparna Mondal, Minnu Mani, Tara Norris
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