WPL 2025: Smriti Mandhana kicks aside Virat Kohli question at press conference
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RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana has given a befitting reply to a journalist who asked her a question related to Virat Kohli. The journalist had asked Mandhana about sharing the jersey no. 18 with Kohli as both players have the same jersey numbers.
Smriti Mandhana was present in the press conference before the beginning of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 along with the other captains of the tournament. She will also play the opening match of the season where she will be leading her team Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Also read: IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane kicked aside as new KKR captain picked
Smriti Mandhana responds to journalist when asked about Virat Kohli
During the press conference, a journalist asked Smriti Mandhana about having the same jersey no. as Virat Kohli. Mandhana smiled after listening to the question and immediately looked down. The video was caught on social media as well.
https://t.co/7kzRyrXpna pic.twitter.com/R2ryQkoTKV
— kay ☆ (@mandhanacult) February 13, 2025
While Mandhana's reply wasn't caught in the video, sports journalist Rajdeep Saha shared the conversation and claimed that she gave the journalist a strong reply. According to the journalist, Mandhana asked everyone to stick to women's cricket since it was the WPL press conference.
"Since we are in the WPL, let's stick to women's cricket," Mandhana was quoted as saying.
At a Women's Premier League press meet, Smriti Mandhana was asked about sharing the No. 18 jersey with Virat Kohli - a topic that has been spoken to bits.
— Rajdeep Saha (@rswrites25) February 13, 2025
Her answer?
"Since we are in the WPL, let's stick to women's cricket," she said with a smile.
As some journalists should!
Smriti Mandhana in WPL 2024
Smriti Mandhana has been the captain of RCB since WPL 2023 and will continue to lead the side in the upcoming season. Under her inspired leadership, RCB won the title last year which was also the franchise's first ever title in either men's or women's cricket.
Mandhana was among the top run-getters for her team in the season with 300 runs in 10 matches at an average of 30 and a strike rate of 133.92. The left-hander was her team's second-highest run-scorer of the season behind Ellyse Perry.
Overall, Mandhana has scored 449 runs in 18 matches of WPL at an average of 24.94 and a strike rate of 125.41. She has struck 2 fifties for RCB in WPL history.
RCB to begin WPL 2025 as defending champions
The WPL 2025 will feature five teams just like the initial two seasons. The five participating teams in the tournament are Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and UP Warriorz.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions of WPL having won the title in 2024 after defeating Delhi Capitals in the final. The opening match of WPL 2025 will be played between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Giants on February 14 at Vadodara.
The tournament will be played from February 14 to March 15. The first two seasons of the WPL have seen tremendous success with Mumbai Indians winning the inaugural season and RCB winning the title in the second edition.
