Ellyse Perry, the star all-rounder of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has come out in support of the under-fire skipper Smriti Mandhana, following RCB’s horror start to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023. Despite Mandhana’s struggles with the bat and as captain, Perry believes that the Indian vice-captain is a great captain who just needs a chance to find her feet in the tournament.
Smriti Mandhana, the most expensive buy at the WPL 2023 auction, has failed to deliver in RCB’s first four matches, registering scores of 35, 23, 18, and 4. However, Perry is confident that with tough experiences and time, Mandhana will bounce back stronger.
Speaking to the media after RCB’s fourth consecutive loss to UP Warriorz, Perry revealed that she knows Smriti well and understands the pressure the Indian batter is putting on herself to perform. Perry also acknowledged the challenge of playing with a new set of players in a new competition and trying to gel in a short time.
Despite the struggles, Perry praised Mandhana’s incredible skill and described her as a youngster who has much to learn and grow from this tournament. Mandhana, on her part, took responsibility for the team’s loss, stating that they need to put up more runs on the board and work towards a balanced team.
As RCB gears up to face Delhi Capitals in their next match at DY Patil Sports Academy, it’s time for each player to reflect on their performances and put in their best efforts to get out of the tough situation they have put themselves in.