Huge blow for Smriti Mandhana's RCB! England star withdraws from WPL 2024

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women have suffered a major blow ahead of the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. England captain Heather Knight has pulled out of the upcoming edition of the league.

This comes as a massive blow for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women as Heather Knight played a huge role for the team last year. Despite the team having a torrid run last year, she was the shining light for the team with both bat and ball.

Heather Knight played 8 games for the RCB last year and scored 135 runs for the team at a strike rate of over 140. With the ball too, the England women’s captain was decent as she took 4 wickets in 4 winnings at an average of around 19 and a strike rate of 10.50.

Her absence will leave a massive void for the RCB in the WPL 2024. With the kind of balance that she provided with both bat and ball and also with the quality that she possesses, the franchise will be missing her services. Her experience too will be a big hole for the team in the coming season.

Although, there’s no office confirmation as to why Heather Knight pulled out of the WPL 2024, but it can be suspected this might be due to national commitments. Recently there were reports which suggested that ECB has asked players to play either in WPL or for the national side.

England women will be playing a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which will clash with WPL. The ECB has clearly told the players that those who will stay in India won’t be picked in the team for the first three games of the New Zealand series.

It can be assumed that Heather Knight might have pulled out of the WPL for RCB due to the national duty. Apart from the England captain, Lauren Bell, who was supposed to play for UP Warriorz also pulled out of the tournament due to the same reasons.

RCB Women name Nadine de Klerk as a replacement player

With England captain Heather Knight pulling out of the upcoming season, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) women didn’t take long to announce the replacement. They roped in South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk as a replacement player.

Nadine de Klerk has been impressive with the bat and ball for South Africa. The fast-bowling all-rounder has featured in 30 ODIs and 46 T20Is for her country and has scored 771 runs in two formats along with 74 wickets to her name.

RCB Women would be hoping that Nadine de Klerk plays a crucial role for the team with both bat and ball. The tournament will begin on 23rd February with the clash between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. Royal challengers Bangalore will open their campaign against UP Warriorz on 24th February.

RCB Women squad for WPL

Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Heather Knight, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana (captain), Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Ekta Bisht, Kate Cross, Shubha Satheesh, Georgia Wareham, Ekta Bisht, Kate Cross, Shubha Satheesh, Simran Bahadur, Sabbineni Meghana, Sophie Molineux.