Smriti Mandhana created history by becoming the first Indian cricketer to sign a WBBL pre-draft overseas contract. She will be joining the reigning champions Adelaide Strikers for the upcoming season. Strikers will be the fourth team that  Mandhana will be representing in the past 10 years. Smriti has previously played for Brisbane Heat  (WBBL 2016-17), Hobart 

Hurricanes (WBBL 2018-19) and Sydney Thunder (WBBL 2021). 

The Indian vice-captain had opted out of WBBL 2022 with a view on workload management and then opted out of the inaugural player draft ahead of the 2023 edition, choosing to participate in India’s domestic season instead.

Only the second player after Ellyse Perry to bag two Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Awards, Mandhana will reunite with Luke Williams, the head coach at Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Strikers. The duo propelled RCB to the WPL 2024 title after a fourth-place finish in the five-team tournament in its inaugural year.

“I always look forward to playing in Australia, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team with a history of success like the Strikers,” Mandhana said. “I’m thrilled to continue working with Luke. Our previous experiences together have been so rewarding, and I’m looking forward to building on that.”

In addition to the WPL, Mandhana and Williams have previously worked together at Southern Brave in The Hundred. “Smriti is an exceptional talent, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Strikers,” said Williams. “Her technical skill, experience, and strategic insights are a tremendous asset for us.

The Strikers will play against Brisbane Heat in the WBBL 2024 opener on October 27. Besides Mandhana, India’s Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma are among the first nominations for the upcoming WBBL draft, scheduled on September 1.