Smriti Mandhana set to make debut for Adelaide Strikers

India Women’s all-format vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is set to begin her new journey in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). 

Smriti Mandhana has been included in the 13-member Adelaide Strikers’ squad for the upcoming WBBL 2024/25 match against the hosts Brisbane Heat. Gabba will host this match on Saturday (November 9).

Mandhana wasn’t available for the early period of the new WBBL season due to national team commitment, as they hosted New Zealand Women in the three-match WODI series. While India Women won the series by 2-1, Smriti Mandhana scored a match-winning century (100) in the series finale. 

Smriti Mandhana has great WBBL records

It will be Mandhana’s fourth season at the WBBL. The left-handed opening batter has scored 784 runs in 38 WBBL matches with an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 130.01. She has also taken three wickets. 

Mandhana scored 89 runs in 12 matches for Brisbane Heat Women during her first WBBL season (2016/17).    

Mandhana’s next WBBL experience was in the 2018/19 season, where the Hobart Hurricanes Women’s batter scored 318 runs in 13 matches with an average of 24.46 and a strike rate of 144.54, including two half-centuries. She was the second-most run-scorer for her team in that season.  

Mandhana’s last WBBL season was the 2021/22 season, where the Sydney Thunders Women’s batter scored 377 runs in 13 games with an average of 34.27 and a strike rate of 130.44, including one century and two half-centuries. The left-handed batter was the leading run-scorer for her team in that season. 

Against Melbourne Renegades Women, Mandhana scored 114 not out in the 2021/22 season, which is the second-highest score in the WBBL history. While it was the highest individual score at that time, Brisbane Heat Women’s Grace Harris broke the record with her 136 not out against Perth Scorchers Women in October 2023. 

Mandhana is going to be a key name for Adelaide Strikers Women

Now, Mandhana is set to make her debut for Adelaide Strikers Women. Strikers are in the last place in the WBBL 2024/25 points table with only two points. In their first four games of the season, Strikers Women won once and lost three other matches.