Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday retained as many as 13 players ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) mini-auction, a decision which was pretty much on expected lines following their second coronation this February.
Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who opted out of the previous season due to personal reasons, will continue to be on their roster after confirming her availability to the team management.
“She (Perry) indicated that she would be more than happy to come back and play for RCB some time in August,” head coach Malolan Rangarajan said in a video posted by the franchise.
The other overseas options that found a place in the side were Australia’s Georgia Voll, England quick Lauren Bell and South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk.
Prathyoosha Kumar, who recently moved from Karnataka to Chhattisgarh, has also been retained.
Australia’s big-hitting Grace Harris performed well but was released by RCB as Perry’s inclusion adds experience and all-round skills to the line-up.
Harris scored 237 runs, striking at 178.19 and averaging 26.33 with two fifties to her name.
The franchise also released England’s left-arm spinner Linsey Smith along with India international D Hemalatha and Gautami Naik.
“It was a long-drawn process (retention) and we had our coaches and Smriti (Mandhana) involved in it. We have had the benefit and privilege to be able to retain the core of our squad. It was obviously a winning combination but it is important for the players to realise that they are expected to come in with improvements in their performance,” Malolan said.
RCB now walk into the mini-auction with five slots, including two overseas picks. And they will go shopping with Rs 1.15 crore in the bank.
The WPL auction will be held in Kochi on October 28, and the fifth edition of the competition will take place from January 14 to February 7.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Retained list:Smriti Mandhana, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Prathyoosha Kumar, Nadike de Klerk, Lauren Bell, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, Arundhathi Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar.
Released:D Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Grace Harris, Linsey Smith.