WPL 2024: RCB Captain Smriti Mandhana Confident Of Better Last Season’s Performance In Upcoming Edition

New Delhi: Having lost six of their eight matches last season, Royal Challengers Bangalore are capable of bettering their last edition show in the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, felt skipper Smriti Mandhana. The Indian vice-captain opined her team’s balance is looking considerably better after acquiring new players in the auction that took place last year. RCB finished fourth in the five-team competition in WPL 2023. The second season will be played in New Delhi and Bengaluru.

Batting was never a problem for RCB in the previous season while their bowling was. In fact, most of RCB’s losses last year were due to their inability to strike with the ball. RCB bought England’s Kate Cross and Australians Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molinuex in the overseas quota while also ensuring the services of home talents in Ekta Bisht, Sabbineni Meghana, Simran Bahadur and Shubha Satheesh.

“I would definitely want it to be better than the first season. From RCB’s point of view, quite a few players were released and we brought in new players. So, the balance has improved for sure, and we are hoping to live up to our potential,” Mandhana told JioCinema.

However, RCB will be missing Heather Knight as the England captain opted out die to national commitments. They had also released Komal Zanzad, Poonam Khemnar, Preeti Bose, Sahana Pawar, Dane van Niekerk, Erin Burns, and Megan Schutt.

One of the major drawbacks for RCB last year was lack of pre-season. Mandhana also had the opportunity to see the new recruits in the domestic season this year, which is a major plus for her and the franchise. “Playing in the domestic season helped me practice well and we saw quite a few girls against whom we’ve not played previously. I was able to recommend a few names to my franchise after seeing these girls,” she added.

Asked if she considers RCB as title contenders, the southpaw said: “We don’t want to think too far ahead. We definitely want to do better than last year and are motivated to do it.” Opening the batting, Mandhana could manage only 149 runs with a highest score of 37 in the first WPL season.

Meanwhile, RCB were dealt with a huge blow as all-rounder Kanika Ahuja was ruled out due to injury. She has been replaced by Maharashtra’s left-arm fast bowler Shradda Pokharkar. Royal Challengers Bangalore will open their campaign against UP Warriors in Bengaluru on February 24.