India’s opening batter Smriti Mandhana and all-rounder Deepti Sharma have decided to sign for the Sydney Thunder of the WBBL. This is Mandhana’s third team in the WBBL having played for Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes before. Meanwhile, this is the first time Deepti Sharma is going to be a part of the WBBL.
Mandhana has a stellar WT20I record, compiling 1901 runs at an average of 26.04 with a strike rate of 120+. Meanwhile, Deepti has scored 470 runs in T20Is at an average of 20.43 and has claimed 56 wickets in 54 innings.
Playing in overseas leagues gives you a lot of experience, especially in the T20 format. Then, of course, you exchange so much experience with each other . . . with all the players from over the world . . . so you get to learn a lot. Rather than 'pressure', I always look at it as an opportunity to learn, and to get used to that pressure because it only builds when you play international cricket.
Smriti Mandhana
This is my first time [in the WBBL], so I'm excited. I've had offers before, but I couldn't play at the time because at the time we had [an international] series. It's a big thing for Indian women's cricket that we have the opportunity to play in the WBBL. We have to express ourselves in the competition.
Deepti Sharma