Mandhana, Deepti to play for title holders Sydney Thunder in WBBL 7

Sydney, Sep 26 (PTI): Indian cricketers Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma will play in the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) as they were roped in by defending champions Sydney Thunder for the seventh edition of the T20 tournament, starting next month.
They are currently in Australia as part of the Indian team’s ongoing tour and will stay back for the franchise league, starting October 14. Left-handed opener Mandhana boasts of an outstanding record in Australia and has starred for India in Friday’s second ODI in Mackay, scoring 86 off 94 balls. While Mandhana, 25, had previously featured in WBBL for Hobart Hurricanes and Brisbane Heat, it will be all-rounder Deepti’s maiden outing in the tournament.
Sydney Thunder coach Trevor Griffin on Sunday said his team’s title defence had received an extra edge with the addition of the Indian players.
Griffin, who has worked extensively with Mandhana in England, was excited by the thought of the left-handed opener adding her firepower to the side. “She’s world class,” said Griffin about Mandhana, who won the 2018 ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award. “Smriti is an opening batter who has the tremendous ability to take everything in her stride. I like that she keeps her game really simple; she just wants to score runs. I’m delighted to have her on board, and I have no doubt that she’ll prove to be a great addition to Thunder.” Mandhana said she expects to gain valuable experience from the campaign.

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