The inaugural Women’s Premier League auction got underway with a bang on Monday, February 13 at the Jio Convention Center in Mumbai. Team India cricketer Smriti Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur were two of the most sought-after players at the auction table, during the first round. Smriti Mandhana was picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Harmanpreet Kaur went to the Mumbai Indians.
Smriti Mandhana was the first player to be presented at the auction, and immediately kicked off a bidding war between Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The bid kept on thriving with the Royal Challengers Bangalore finally signing the player for a whopping INR 3.40 crores. After Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur’s name went under the hammer. Mumbai Indians, who missed out in the first bid, managed to secure Harmanpreet Kaur’s services for the upcoming season at INR 1.80 crores.
Mumbai Indians bags the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur 🤩🤩#CricketTwitter #WPL pic.twitter.com/SHzyyUna4l
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 13, 2023
Join us in welcoming the first Royal Challenger, Smriti Mandhana! 😍
Welcome to RCB 🔥#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #WPL2023 #WPLAuction pic.twitter.com/7q9j1fb8xj
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 13, 2023
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur have been vital pillars of Indian cricket over the last few years. The opener has played 112 T20Is for India, scoring 2651 runs at an average of 27.32 and a strike rate of 123.13. She is likely to lead the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2023 Women’s Premier League. Similarly, Harmanpreet Kaur will be seen leading the Mumbai Indians. She has a great record for India in T20Is, scoring 2956 runs, including a highest score of 103 runs.
Let’s take a look at how Twitterati reacted to Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur’s Women’s Premier League auction bids:
RCB take Smrithi Mandhana for ₹3.40 crores
Harmanpreet Kaur to Mumbai Indians for ₹1.80 crores
Mouth watering deals!#WPL— Vimal Pant (@PantVimal) February 13, 2023
The numbers in the women’s IPL auction have never been seen before in the women’s game, with Smriti Mandhana sold to RCB for over £340,000 and Harmanpreet Kaur to Mumbai Indians for £180,000. All signify a new era for the sport #WPLAuction
— Sonia Twigg (@twiggsonia) February 13, 2023
Smriti Mandhana & Harmanpreet Kaur right now after getting sold for 3.4 & 1.8 Cr respectively! #WomensIPL #WPLAuction pic.twitter.com/FtEdlg4Fd9
— Ana de Armas stan (@abhithecomic) February 13, 2023
Mumbai Indians bought Harmanpreet Kaur for half the price that RCB bought Smriti Mandhana. What a steal. #WPLAuction2023
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) February 13, 2023
Women’s IPL auction throwing up head-spinning figures, #RCB have @mandhana_smriti for a whopping Rs3.4 crore!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 13, 2023
Smriti Mandhana to RCB. It's all Royal now with the king and the queen playing for the same franchise. #RCB #Playbold #18 #ViratKohli𓃵 #smritimandhana #WPLAuction #WPL2023
— Ashvik (@Ashvikkkk) February 13, 2023
3.40 cr. – Smriti Mandhana.
Take a bow queen – RCB BLOOD#WPLAuction #WPL2023 pic.twitter.com/sqe2CkvGY3— zex (@falconxo) February 13, 2023
Captain. Leader. Legend. #MumbaiIndians player.
Harmanpreet aata Mumbaichi! 💙#AaliRe #OneFamily #WPLAuction pic.twitter.com/yO4FSnky2u
— Daud Khan (@DaudKha70891861) February 13, 2023
Then, Virat 🆚 Rohit
Now, Mandhana 🆚 HarmanpreetThe Rivalry Continues….
— harshad (@_anxious_one) February 13, 2023
Smriti Mandhana for RCB for 3.4 CR🔥🥳
18 and RCB have a separate love story
Queen and King are with us😌#RCB #SmritiMandhana #WIPLAuction #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/Z3cWnJaQ8i
— Virat👑Rocky✨️ (@Virat_Rocky18) February 13, 2023
HARMANPREET KAUR CAPTAIN
YAASSSS
— Adwait Bhattacharya | Chelsea 💙 (@Adwait17) February 13, 2023
List of top players sold in the first set at the 2023 Women’s Premier League auction
Smriti Mandhana – INR 3.4 crores to the Royal Challengers Bangalore
Ashleigh Gardner – INR 3.2 crores to the Gujarat Giants
Harmanpreet Kaur – INR 1.8 crores to the Mumbai Indians
Sophie Ecclestone – INR 1.8 crores to the UP Warriorz
Ellyse Perry – INR 1.7 crores to the Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sophie Devine – INR 50 lakhs to the Royal Challengers Bangalore
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