Smriti Mandhana set for Adelaide Strikers debut against Brisbane Heat in WBBL 2024

Smriti Mandhana is all set to make her debut for the Adelaide Strikers after being named in the squad for the clash against Brisbane Heat on Saturday, November 9 in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) at The Gabba. The left-handed batter joined the Strikers’ setup on Friday.

Mandhana was added to the squad along with Bridget Patterson after the Strikers left out Eleanor Larosa and Annie O’Neil. The Strikers have struggled thus far in the tournament, languishing at the bottom of the table with two points and a net run rate of -0.900 thanks to losses in three out of four games.

The Strikers, who won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, will be looking to make amends against the Heat after losing to the Melbourne Renegades by two wickets in their previous game.

Adelaide Strikers squad for match vs Brisbane Heat

Tahlia McGrath, Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Ellie Johnston, Katie Mack, Smriti Mandhana, Anesu Mushangwe, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Orla Prendergast, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt

Smriti Mandhana’s record in WBBL

The Strikers will be the fourth team Mandhana will be playing for in the WBBL. The other teams are Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes and the Heat. In 38 matches, Mandhana has scored 784 runs at an average of 24.50 and a strike-rate of 130.01 with a hundred and four fifties to her name.

Mandhana had a dream run in the 2021 edition of the WBBL when she played for the Thunder, then led by Hannah Darlington. In one of the matches against the Renegades, she scored an unbeaten 114 off 64 balls, laced with 14 fours and three sixes.

Mandhana recently made the record for scoring the most hundreds for India in Women’s ODIs, going past the legendary Mithali Raj. On Thursday, she was also retained to play for RCB.