Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Shefali Verma will play in The Hundred
The inaugural season of The Hundred tournament will feature five Indian women cricketers. Apart from senior players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, T20 number one batsman Shefali Verma, all-rounder Deepti Sharma and Jemima Rodrigues will play the tournament.
While Indian women’s T20 team captain Harmanpreet will be a part of Manchester Originals, Smriti Mandhana will play for Southern Brave. Deepti will represent the London Spirit franchise, while Rodrigues will play for Northern Superchargers. Shefali has been signed by Birmingham Phoenix. She will replace Kiwi all-rounder Sophie Devine, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to logistical problems.
The Hundred Women’s competition head Beth Barrett-Wild expressed her happiness at being able to bring Indian star women players to the tournament for the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) most ambitious project ever. “Indians are a very exciting group of players and they will bring a lot to the competition,” he said. I can’t wait for the 21st of July and the full competition and for the fans to see these world class players at their best.
Harmanpreet Kaur said, “It is very exciting that I will get a chance to play in the first season of The Hundred. It would be special to make history on such a huge ground, especially with a women’s match. We have played in India in front of some huge crowds and it is always a good experience for the players.