RCB Retains Smriti Mandhana for INR 3.4 Crore Ahead of WPL 2025 Auction

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have retained Smriti Mandhana for her original INR 3.4 crore salary ahead of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction. As RCB’s captain, Mandhana led the team to victory in the 2024 season, justifying her high-profile acquisition as the league’s most expensive player.

Mandhana’s retention follows the WPL’s approach of retaining players at the initial auction price until a mega auction is introduced. Since RCB initially secured her for INR 3.4 crore in the inaugural 2023 auction, she remains the most expensive player in WPL history, edging out Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat Giants) and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians), who each command INR 3.2 crore.

To optimize their purse for new additions, RCB released seven players, including overseas stars Nadine de Klerk and Heather Knight. With a 2025 season on the horizon, Mandhana is expected to lead from the front and build on her improved performances, especially following strong recent form against New Zealand and with an upcoming tour of Australia.