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After vehement back and forth in the deliberation rooms and some intense moments of anticipation, the much-awaited Women’s Premier League (WPL) was eventually given the nod by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as five franchises have been announced for the inaugural season.
Amongst them, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) managed to acquire the Bengaluru team and that too at a staggering price money of INR 901 crore.
RCB chairman Prathmesh Mishra stated that they stayed away from bidding for teams at the men’s ILT20 and SA20 leagues to focus on the WPL.
“We held back all our investments in overseas teams to own a team that aligns with this philosophy and core value, and it gives us immense pleasure to have marked this accomplishment positively,” said Mishra, after becoming the successful owner of a Bengaluru team.
Not only Indian but also overseas women cricketers were over the moon after the news broke out. International players from England, South Africa and Australia have even shown their interest in representing RCB/Bengaluru team in the upcoming WPL.
Here’s the complete list of players:
1. Alyssa Healy
“I am in the auction so we’ll see where I’ll end up. But it will be a nice touch to go to RCB,” Healy said at the Australia Cricket Awards 2023.
2. Chloe Tryon
“I’ll definite support Bengaluru (RCB). If there’s a women side, I would love to play in it too,” Tryon told Female Cricket.
3. Danielle Wyatt
“I support Royal Challengers Bangalore, so RCB would be cool. I’d like to play for them,” Wyatt was quoted as saying to cricket.com.
4. Laura Wolvaardt
“My favourite team is Royal Challengers Bangalore. So it will be pretty cool to be part of that team,” Wolvaardt told Crictracker.
5. Lizelle Lee
“I have always been an RCB supporter. I am not picky, but yeah, just hoping to get picked up in the draft [auction],” Lee said in an interview with Women’s Criczone.
6. Sarah Taylor
“Hey I am keeping for Royal Challengers Bangalore,” tweeted Taylor.
