'Carry On Play Bold Spirit': Royal Challengers Bangalore's Parting Message to 2023 WPL Batch

Royal Challengers Bangalore have extended their gratitude to the group of players, who represented the franchise in the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). A few of them will continue to play for RCB in the upcoming edition, while the others have been released.

Players who have been shown the exit door will be put into the auction, which was held in Mumbai on Saturday.

Ahead of the event, RCB bid adieu to the outgoing players with a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter). The franchise shared a group photo of the start-studded batch featured in the 2023 WPL.

The caption of the post read, “Thank you to our Class of ‘23. With a few of our players embarking on new adventures, we close the chapter on our first season with gratitude. Carry on the Play Bold spirit with pride, girls!.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Indian batter Smriti Mandhana, failed to produce anything special last season. They managed to win only two of their eight league games, finishing fourth in the points table of the five-team tournament.

RCB will be desperate to make a roaring comeback in the next WPL.

At the inaugural auction, RCB spent a total amount of Rs 10.15 crore. They broke the bank for Smriti Mandhana. The Indian star came to the auction with a base price of Rs 50 lakh, while RCB secured her signature for a staggering value of Rs 3.4 crore.

Including Mandhana, RCB retained a total of 11 players this season. The other players, who will continue to don the red jersey next season, are Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Sophie Devine.

Despite preparing a strong batting unit last season, RCB lacked a fast bowler who could help in achieving early success with the new ball. Renuka Singh was used as the frontline pacer but the Indian speedster failed to match the expectations.

Offspinner Shreyanka Patil, who has recently made her international debut against England, was one of the star bowlers for RCB in the last WPL.