WPL 2023 MI vs RCB: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana to face off as RCB looks for redemption

New Delhi: It is the battle of the Indian captain and vice-captain tonight as Mumbai Indias play against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Harmanpreet Kaur, leading MI to victory in the opening encounter will play Smriti Mandhana’s RCB at Brabourne stadium at 7:30 pm. Mandhana and company will look to redeem themselves after a loss against Delhi Capitals yesterday.

Kaur and Mandhana, two stalwarts of Indian cricket, have previously played against each other in the Women’s T20 Challenge and WBBL, but this time the battle is much bigger, with a lot at stake.

Harmanpreet Kaur played a fierce inning of 65 off 30 to score the first-ever fifty of WPL 2023 while Mandhana scored 35 off 23 against DC. At the press conference, when asked about the epic clash, Smriti said that they have not played a lot of domestic cricket but with the experience of playing international leagues, she hopes she can help youngsters at RCB and Kaur can help MI girls.

Mumbai Indians have a batting depth that goes to number 9 as Issy Wong and Amanjot Kaur are also good strikers of the ball. Similarly, they also have 9-10 options in bowling with the likes of Saika Ishaque and Wong by their side. Their batting line-up is their strength as they have Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews in the top and middle orders.

RCB has a quality pace attack in Renuka Thakur and Megan Schutt and with Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry at the top, they can be the most destructive team on their good days. Richa Ghosh had a blast against Australia at Brabourne and she would look forward to replicating that against MI.