WPL auction 2023: RCB bask in limelight as they bought several stars of international cricket

RCB bought Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and Renuka Singh among other players.

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The Women's Premier League auction 2023 has been an exhilarating affair so far as several big names from women’s cricket went under the hammer and were sold for big bucks in the first three rounds of the mega event. The franchise which hogged the most limelight during the initial rounds was Royal Challengers Bangalore, who roped in numerous big names of international cricket to form a strong core of their team.

RCB made a remarkable start to the auction by bidding for the star Indian opener, Smriti Mandhana. They faced tough competition from Mumbai Indians who were also very keen to bring Mandhana into their squad. RCB finally placed the winning bid of a whopping INR 3.4 crore and bought the services of the Mumbai-born opener.

The next-big name that the franchise targeted was New Zealand’s Sophie Devine. They didn’t face competition from any other franchise and bought her at her base price of INR 50 Lakh. Devine is the fifth-highest run scorer in Women’s T20Is having 2950 runs to her name at an average of 29.50 and a strike rate of 121.95. She has scored one hundred and 17 fifties in her T20I career.

Further adding more fire-power to their squad, RCB went after the star Australian all-rounder, Ellyse Perry. Bangalore were in a bidding war with Delhi Capitals to bring the all rounder into their squad. However, Bangalore won the bid with a whopping INR 1.7 crore.

After strengthening their batting, Bangalore went for the star Indian seamer Renuka Singh to bring vitality to their bowling department. They roped her in for INR 1.5 crore after winning the bidding war against Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants.

The Bangalore based franchise further targeted the Indian wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh who shined in India’s opening match of the T20 World Cup against Pakistan. They bought her services for INR 1.9 crore after getting involved in another bidding war with the Delhi Capitals.

RCB have bought five players so far with a remaining purse of 4.9 crore at the end of Group 6.