'Hamare choriyan Pakistani choron se Jayda hai' - Fans react as Smriti Mandhana bags thrice of Babar Azam's PSL price in Women's T20 League Auction

Babar Azam and Smriti Mandhana's price sparks comparison (Source: Twitter)

The players' auction for the inaugural edition of the Women's T20 League took place at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai on Monday. Notably, it was conducted by the first woman auctioneer of Indian origin, Mallika Sagar. The auction is a step towards materialising franchise cricket in the women's game in India. It will also serve as a monumental step for developing young Indian women cricketers lacking opportunities to perform at the highest level.

India star batter Smriti Mandhana ended up being the costliest player at the auction. After an intense bidding war with the Mumbai franchise, the Bangalore franchise robbed her with their winning bid of 3.40 crore INR. She scripted history, becoming the first player to be sold at the auction for the premier Women's T20 League scheduled to be played between March 3 and 26 in Mumbai.

As such, Smriti Mandhana's price tag at the auction happens to be roughly thrice the price tag Babar Azam bagged in the PSL. It speaks volumes about the development the Women's T20 League will bring to the women's game. The fans were quick to react on Twitter to this comparison between the two stars of the game.

10 Indian players bagged paychecks higher than 1 crore in Women's T20 League Auction

Indian players were the main winners in the auction, with 10 players going for more than 1 crore INR. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, young opening batter Shafali Verma, explosive batter Jemimah Rodrigues and allrounders Richa Ghosh and Puja Vastrakar were the headline buys among the Indian players. Devika Vaidya also went for a whopping 1.4 crore INR later in the accelerated round of the auction.

Ashleigh Gardner, Natalie Sciver, Beth Mooney, Sophie Ecclestone, Ellyse Perry, Marizanne Kapp, Meg Lanning, Tahlia McGrath, Shabnim Ismail and Amelia Kerr were the headline overseas players going for bids higher than 1 crore INR.

Here are some of the top tweets regarding the comparison between Smriti Mandhana and Babar Azam's price tags:

Hamare choriyan Pakistani choron se Jayda hai 😃

— Tapeshtoushik Roy (@tapeshtoushik) February 14, 2023

India and their obsession with Babar

— Majid Khan (@majidkhantweets) February 14, 2023

Koi rah to nai gya jis ka comparison King sy na kia ho???🤔🤔🙈🙈

— BalochMunda (@mundabaloch1) February 14, 2023

What the hell...there is no reason of comparison.... Don't do this please...

— Vipul Singh (@bipulsingh615) February 14, 2023

One cover drive of king Babar Azam >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>than the life of smriti Mandhana

— Fawad (@Fawad26697732) February 14, 2023

WTF , we don't want to know these things. 2 completely different leagues, why to compare? Enjoy both the leagues as they are.

— Shivi. (@Harman_stan) February 14, 2023

Not only Smriti Mandhana....But Richa Ghosh 1.90 cr, Harmanpreet Kaur 1.8cr, Nat Sciver Brunt 3.2cr, Ashley Gardener 3.2cr,Jemimah 2.6cr, Beth Mooney 2cr,Shefali Verma 2cr,Sophie Ecclestone 1.8cr..

All these women players will get more salary than zimbabar

— Pradeep (@Pradeep100119) February 14, 2023

Idiots.. There is a difference between Draft and Bid

— 🏔️ Sheikh 🏔️ (@Sheikh_MnM) February 14, 2023