Three Bangalore batters who can win Orange Cap in inaugural Women's T20 League

Smriti Mandhana & Ellyse Perry (Image credits: Twitter)

The inaugural edition of the Women's T20 League organized by the Indian Cricket Board is set to kick off next month. Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat, and Lucknow are the five teams competing for the title. Indian business giant Tata group, which holds the right to Men’s franchise T20 League, is the title sponsor of the inaugural WTL.

At the auction held in Mumbai last week, franchises picked the best players from around the world to build their squads for future seasons. With the tournament set to begin on March 4, franchises are hoping to get effective results from their favourite players.

The Bangalore franchise never fails to bring superstars into their team as they already have such players in the men's league and now the women's league. The Karnataka-based franchise grabbed eyeballs in the WTL auction when they bought the most expensive player of the tournament, Smriti Mandhana. Bangalore also purchased some big names including Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh, Sophie Devine, and Richa Ghosh. The franchise has never let its fans down in the men's league and the same amount of entertainment can be expected from the women's team as well.

Here are three Bangalore batters who can win the Orange Cap in the inaugural Women's T20 League:

1. Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandana, who was signed as Bangalore's first pick in the WTL auction for Rs 3.4 crore, has every chance of winning the maiden Orange Cap. Given the potential of the Indian star batter, a fierce bidding war took place between Bangalore and Mumbai during the auction. The current vice-captain of the Indian women's cricket team has played excellent cricket for her team in her 10-year T20I career. The India opener scored 2,661 runs from 113 games at a strike rate of 123.19 with 20 half-centuries.

Playing for Bangalore, Smriti's role will be similar to what she does for India, giving the team a good start and carrying momentum throughout the innings. She will also get much-needed support from experienced players such as Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, and Heather Knight.

2. Sophie Devine

Given Sophie Devine's excellent record as an opener, her role will be similar in Bangalore as well. Along with Smriti Mandhana, the New Zealand cricketer can give the franchise a fierce start. One of the most successful batters in the shortest format, Devine has scored 2,966 runs with one century and 17 fifties at a strike rate of 121.30 from 117 T20I matches. The veteran has some amazing records in the Women's Big Bash League too. She has scored 3,258 runs for Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers with three centuries and 19 half-centuries in 106 matches at a strike rate of 126.52.

3. Ellyse Perry

Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry went to the Bangalore franchise at 1.7 crores after a bidding battle with Delhi Capitals. Perry recently surpassed Indian captain Rohit Sharma on an elite list. She is now the most-capped player in the history of T20 World Cups, with 39 caps in the Cricket Governing Body event. The Aussie star will be a great addition to Bangalore as his immense experience of playing T20 cricket will help the franchise top the tournament.

Perry has an excellent record in T20Is scoring 1,515 runs with seven fifties in 135 matches at a strike rate of 111.97. She is also a prominent figure in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) as she is currently the second-leading run scorer in the tournament. In her 111 WBBL appearances, she has smashed 3,769 runs with two tons and 25 fifties at a strike rate of 104.34.