Smriti Mandhana joins Adelaide Strikers for the forthcoming WBBL-10 season. Known for her impactful performances, Mandhana has previously featured in three WBBL seasons with the Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunder (WBBL|07).
Earlier this year, Mandhana, alongside coach Luke Williams, played a pivotal role in leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to triumph in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024.
Expressing her excitement about this new chapter, Mandhana stated, “I always look forward to playing in Australia, and I’m thrilled at the prospect of contributing to a successful team like the Strikers.”
Mandhana and Strikers coach Luke Williams have a history of collaboration, having previously worked together at Southern Brave in The Hundred.
Williams shared his enthusiasm about Mandhana’s pre-draft signing, noting, “Smriti is an extraordinary talent, and we’re delighted to have her join the Strikers. Her technical skills, experience, and strategic insights are invaluable assets to our team.”
He further added, “I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and energy she brings to the field. Her expertise and leadership will be crucial as we aim for success in the upcoming season.”
The Adelaide Strikers are thrilled about Smriti Mandhana’s addition to their squad, highlighting that her signing reinforces their dedication to building a strong team in their quest for a third straight WBBL title.
The team is optimistic that Mandhana’s remarkable strike rate of 130 will boost their competitive advantage and fortify their batting strength.
In her WBBL career, Mandhana has featured in 38 matches, accumulating 784 runs with an average of 24.50 and an impressive strike rate of 130.01.
The Adelaide Strikers are scheduled to face off against the Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval for the opening match of the WBBL|10 seasons on October 27.
Smriti Mandhana Career Highlights
Smriti Mandhana is an outstanding player in all formats of cricket and has won the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award twice. She is only the second player, after Australia’s Ellyse Perry, to achieve this honor.
In her T20 international career for India, Mandhana has played 141 matches, scoring 3,493 runs with an average of 28.86 and a strike rate of 122.51. She has hit 26 half-centuries, showing her skill and power as a batswoman. These impressive achievements make her one of the top players in women’s cricket worldwide.
19 Indian Players in the WBBL Draft
In other news, the Women Big Bash League player draft will feature 19 Indian women cricketers, with the draft set for Sunday. Notable players including India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma are among those nominated.
The full list includes Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah 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, and Meghna Singh.
