Earlier this year, Mandhana captained Royal Challengers Bangalore and led the team to the WPL title under the coach of Luke Williams, who also plays the same role with the Strikers.
“I always look forward to playing in Australia and am excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team with a history of success like the Strikers,” Mandhana said. “I am thrilled to continue working with Luke. Our past experiences have been very rewarding and I am looking forward to building on this further.”
The Strikers have been keen to bring Mandhana to the club for the past several seasons, but last year she opted out of nominating for the draft to manage her workload. She is not expected to play in the first few matches due to the ODI series against New Zealand right after the T20 World Cup, but she will be available for the entire match including the final if the Strikers qualify for a hat-trick of titles.
“Smriti is an exceptional talent and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Strikers,” said Williams. “Her technical prowess, experience and tactical insight are a tremendous asset to us. I know first-hand her dedication and energy within the team and on the field. Her expertise and leadership will be invaluable to our success in the upcoming season.”
The Strikers can further strengthen their top order in the draft on September 1 as they have retention rights for South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt. However, they will not be able to use their retention in the same round if Mandhana is allocated as their first-round platinum player.
The Strikers have also made a pick trade with the Renegades before the draft, giving the Renegades picks 19 and 30 in return for picks 22 and 27. The Strikers also have 6 picks in the first round and 14 in the second round.
WBBL pre-draft signings
Adelaide Strikers: Smriti Mandhana
Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk
Hobart Hurricanes: Lizelle Lee
Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews
Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp
Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine
Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr
Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu