In her address at the recent RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India in Bengaluru, Smriti Mandhana, captain of the RCB women’s team and vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, voiced her support for the introduction of a multi-city format in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

RCB Skipper Smriti Mandhana bats for multi-city format in WPL to bring new audience to women’s cricket ahead of the Season 2 auction

Mandhana, reflecting on the WPL’s success, expressed her excitement about the potential benefits of a multi-city format during the unique summit that assembled prominent leaders from diverse fields to discuss the future of sport. “The concept of a multi-city WPL is appealing. This could be a significant advancement, and I’m confident that the people here will consider it and make it a reality. As an RCB supporter, I dream of playing in Chinnaswamy Stadium, with fans chanting ‘RCB RCB’. This could extend the reach of women’s cricket to new areas and audiences,” Mandhana shared.

Appreciating the platform provided by the RCB Innovation Lab’s Leaders Meet India, Smriti Mandhana called for more such events, stating that they offer valuable insight into how business leaders view sports as a medium for driving digital engagement.

RCB Skipper Smriti Mandhana bats for multi-city format in WPL: Know more

Ahead of the WPL auction and the tournament’s second season, Smriti Mandhana, as RCB’s captain, underscored the importance of the supportive environment that the franchise has fostered. She also emphasized her commitment to spending quality time with her team. “A lot of thought has gone into strategizing the right combinations for releases or retention. We are eagerly awaiting the WPL auctions and hope to secure the players we have set our sights on,” she added.

Mandhana also spoke about the strides made by women’s sports in India, highlighting the impressive accomplishments of female athletes in recent years. She stressed the need for a cultural shift: “Women in India have achieved incredible feats in the past five to ten years, not just in cricket but in all sports. The impressive medal haul by female athletes at recent international events like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games serves as a massive inspiration for young girls in smaller cities to follow their passion. Women’s sports should be recognized as distinct, which could help boost ticket sales and digital rights.”

On being asked about areas that require further investment or focus to continue the growth trajectory of women’s cricket, Mandhana advocated for greater attention to grassroots-level development.

“The primary area we could invest more in is the grassroots level of women’s sports. The Indian Women’s team and the WPL tournament have generated a lot of interest. More investment could help us discover and nurture more female cricketers,” she suggested.

Smriti Mandhana also shared her admiration for international women athletes such as Alex Morgan from women’s FIFA and tennis legend Serena Williams, citing them as her sources of inspiration.