Smriti Mandhana to play for Western Storm in Kia Super League this year too

Ace India opening batswoman Smriti Mandhana has come back to Western Storm for the 2019 season of the Kia Super League (KSL), the women’s T20 league in England and Wales, the franchise has informed. Last year, the 22-year-old left-hand batter had a phenomenal run in the tournament as she scored 421 runs in 10 matches and bagged the Player of the Tournament award.

Western Storm had made the semi-final last year but lost to eventual champions Surrey Stars by just nine runs. The Storm had won the tournament in the inaugural year. Mandhana though hadn’t played the semi-final. She had slammed the fastest T20 fifty in the tournament which was 52 off 19 balls against Loughborough Lightning. She also scored a hundred, her maiden T20 one, in the same competition.

Mandhana, who has played two Tests, 50 ODIs and 58 T20Is for India and scored 272 runs with four tons (all in ODIs), was also looking forward to another stint with the KSL. She is currently the No.1 batswoman in ODIs with 802 ratings.

The franchise was elated to have Mandhana back into its fold for the upcoming season of the tournament which kicked off in 2016. “Western Storm are delighted to be able to announce that Smriti Mandhana will be returning for the 2019 KIA Super League,” the franchise said in a statement shared on its official Twitter handle.

“She made a huge impact for Western Storm last year and played a major role in the team making it to finals day for the third consecutive season.”

Mandhana also looking forward to her stint with Western Storm

“I enjoyed my time with Western Storm last year and I’m looking forward to coming back in 2019. We played some outstanding cricket last year and hopefully we can go a little further this season and lift the trophy,” she said in a statement.

Excited to be back!!!🙌🙂 https://t.co/9Ehs2BDw2Y

— Smriti Mandhana (@mandhana_smriti) July 2, 2019

Mandhana’s latest assignment was playing in a tri-side T20 tournament at home during the Indian Premier League. She was leading the Trailblazers in that competition and scored 90 off 67 balls in a game against Supernovas. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, Mandhana’s team-mates, will also play in the fourth edition of the KSL starting August 6.