WBBL 10: How Adelaide Strikers Managed To Bring Smriti Mandhana Home For Upcoming Season
India women cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has joined Adelaide Strikers for the 10th season of Women’s Big Bash League (WBB) 2025, the club announced on Tuesday (August 27). Mandhana has appeared in three previous WBBL seasons for the Brisbane Heat (WBB 2), Hobart Hurricanes (WBBL 4) and Sydney Thunder (WBBL 7).
It was against Melbourne Renegades in WBBL 7 that Mandhana hit an impressive 114 not out off just 64 balls. Her strong strike rate of 130 is expected to enhance the Strikers competitive edge and bolster their batting squad.
Australian Megan Schutt played a major role in bringing Mandhana to the Strikers. Smriti’s arrival would be ‘the missing piece of the puzzle’ for the Strikers, club icon Megan Schutt told cricketdotcomdotau website. Schutt also revealed to the Australian website that the club had been chasing the Indian southpaw for several years, thanks to her links with coach Luke Williams at Southern Brave in The Hundred and more recently at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
“Countless hours hounding her has helped,” Schutt revealed. “I did see her over at The Brave in The Hundred (this month) and really rekindled that friendship. I played with her at RCB, Tahlia’s (McGrath) played with her a bunch, and she loves Luke’s coaching style. She’s committed, which is great … and having a leftie up top is going to be huge for us.
“Her flair, the areas and pockets she hits to in the ground, I think she plays really well in Australian conditions, her knowledge of the game, she’s one of the leaders in India. She’s a complete package for us,” Schutt was quoted as saying by the Australian website.
In a statement, Adelaide Strikers said, “Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana, one of the leading stars in women’s cricket has joined the Strikers for the upcoming WBBL 10 season. This significant signing highlights the Strikers’ commitment to maintaining a strong squad as they chase a third consecutive WBBL title.”
Welcome to the Strikers @mandhana_smriti!
The Indian superstar is joining us for #WBBL10!
Read more: https://t.co/aOZC8Lf6b1#ourcityourteam #smritimandhana pic.twitter.com/t9WdQJ4vU6— Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) August 26, 2024
A highly decorated player in all formats, Mandhana holds two coveted ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year awards, only the second player to achieve this alongside Australia’s Ellyse Perry. In 141 T20Is for India, Mandhana has scored 3,493 runs at an average of 28.86 and a strike rate of 122.51, with 26 fifties. Other than this, she is one of the most sought-after players in women’s T20 leagues circuit.
This year, alongside coach Luke Williams, Mandhana captained Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to victory in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 title.
“I always look forward to playing in Australia, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team with a history of success like the Strikers,” Mandhana said.
“I am thrilled to continue working with Luke. Our previous experiences together have been so rewarding, and I am looking forward to building on that,” she added.
(with ANI inputs)