Mumbai: Indian women cricket team batswoman Smriti Mandhana signed a one-year deal with Brisbane Heat on Tuesday morning, for the second edition of the Women’s Big Bash League.
Mandhana, thus, became the second India women’s player to sign for the BBL after Harmanpreet Kaur signed a contract with the defending champions Sydney Thunder earlier.
At the age of 20, where people of her age are just taking their first steps into their career, Mandhana has already established herself as a very important batswomen and a central character around which the Indian batting revolves. Mandhana is a perfect example of breaking of perceptions and stereotypes.
Now that Mandhana made it to the second edition of WBBL, in a talk with the media, She said, “I am looking forward very much to working with the Australian girls in the Heat squad after playing against them last season.”
Very enthusiastic to learn from the Australian team, Mandhana said, “That was a good series, and I noticed there was a definite difference between their preparation and our preparation so I am keen to learn from the differences.”
The signing of Mandhana was confirmed post the no objection certificate from BCCI was given to her for participating in the 2nd edition of WBBL.
Talking about the what she expected to learn in WBBL, she said, “Things like fitness and how they train for a series like the WBBL and the way they work on their fielding are areas I am interested in. It will be exciting to live in a different city and meet new people as well as travel around Australia again.”
Brisbane Heat coach Andy Richards said Mandhana was on their priority list after her breathe taking series in Australia, where she made her maiden international century at Hobart. She had followed up that score with scores of 55, 55 and 46 in her next three ODIs while on the tour.
Mandhana started her international career in 2014 when she made a half-century in India’s historic Test win over England in Wormsley. She has since then been a key element in India’s team and now with her selection in Women’s Big Bash League which starts on 10th December this year, she is definitely moving towards a bright future.