Prior to the first-ever season of the Women's Premier League, Royal Challengers Bangalore have now announced the appointment of Sania Mirza as the team's mentor. The inaugural season of the competition will be played in Mumbai from March 4 to 26.
Meanwhile, the franchise also confirmed that Australia's Ben Sawyer will be the team's head coach. It is pertinent to note that Sawyer is currently the head coach of the New Zealand Women side and was the assistant coach of the Australian team which lifted the Women's World Cup last year.
Former Tamil Nadu off-spinner Malolan Rangarajan has been named the assistant coach of the franchise while former India batter VR Vanitha has joined the team as their fielding coach. In another major announcement, the franchise roped in RX Murali as a power-hitting coach.
I want to help the next generation into believing in themselves: Sania Mirza
"I was a little surprised [at being offered a mentorship role], but I was really excited," Mirza, India's tennis sensation, told RCB TV.
"I want to make young girls believe sport can be one of the first career choices for them. I want to help the next generation into believing in themselves no matter how much the odds are against you, you can achieve your goals," she added.
At the WPL Auction at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai, Bangalore managed to pick up a star-studded lineup headlined by the auction's costliest purchase- India's vice-captain and opener Smriti Mandhana whom they bought for INR 3.4 Crore. Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh were among the other purchases Bangalore made at the bidding war.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Squad For Women's Premier League
Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Indrani Roy, Disha Kasat, Shreyanka Patil, Kanika Ahuja, Asha Shobhana, Erin Burns, Heather Knight, Dane van Niekerk, Preeti Bose, Poonam Khemnar, Komal Zanzad, Megan Schutt, Sahana Pawar