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Sania Mirza (Image Source: Twitter)
On 13 February 2023, the first-ever auction for the inaugural season of the Women’s T20 League took place in Mumbai. Over 400 players participated in the auction process at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Five franchises managed to build a strong squad for the season. However, the Bangalore franchise made headlines by acquiring the services of star players like Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and Renuka Singh.
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Apart from them, Sophie Devine, Richa Ghosh, Heather Knight, and Megan Schutt are the top players to watch out for in the Bangalore franchise. So, fans were crazy after seeing such a star-studded squad for the opening season. Now, on 15 February 2023, they came up with another surprise as they appointed the former Indian Tennis great, Sania Mirza as their mentor.
“Every athlete thinks the same way, they go through the same kind of pressure.” - Sania Mirza
Meanwhile, the Bangalore franchise confirmed the news on its official Twitter account. They wrote: “The pioneer in Indian sports for women, a youth icon, someone who has played Bold and broken barriers throughout her career, and a champion on and off the field. We are proud to welcome Sania Mirza as the mentor of the Bangalore franchise women’s cricket team.”
Speaking about it, Sania Mirza said: “I was a little surprised but I was excited. Fortunately or unfortunately, I've been a professional athlete for 20 years. My next job is to try and help young women and young girls believe that sports can be one of the first career choices for them. (There are) so much commonalities (between cricket and tennis)."
Speaking about Sania Mirza, she is a former doubles world No. 1 while she won six major titles – three in women's doubles and three in mixed doubles. Recently after Australian Open 2023, she announced her retirement from professional Tennis. “That aspect of it, the mental aspect is something I look forward to working with the girls. What Indian T20 League has done for men's cricket, if that can be done for women's cricket, playing sport can become a natural option for young girls,” Sania Mirza concluded. However, fans were puzzled to see her as the mentor as there is a difference between Cricket and Tennis.
Here is how fans have reacted to the news of Sania Mirza getting appointed as the mentor for the Bangalore franchise in the WTL 2023:
Behen ji yeh kis line me aa gayi aap
— Aditya Singh (@Aditya787991) February 15, 2023
— Tonald Drump (@Sexyano_Donald0) February 15, 2023
— KC (@kohliception) February 15, 2023
— MSDIAN 🦁🇮🇳 (@MSD_077) February 15, 2023
Dear team mgmt pic.twitter.com/HtaTp26yxT
— Troll Cricket (@ExtraCover07) February 15, 2023
— ♐ (@AAbhi0710) February 15, 2023
— Ankur Choudhury 🇮🇳 (@ankukarwasra) February 15, 2023
— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) February 15, 2023
Smriti Mandhana in nets pic.twitter.com/pBqFgaFYQz
— Labushame (@SMUDGE4549) February 15, 2023