Despite many star players, RCB failed to enter the knockouts in the inaugural season of the WPL last year, finishing at fourth place in the points table. The franchise will commence their 2024 WPL season when they play their first game on February 24 against the UP Warriorz at their home ground M Chinnaswamy Stadium.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI would definitely want it to be better than the first season. From RCB\u2019s point of view, quite a few players were released and we brought in new players. So, the balance has improved for sure, and we are hoping to live up to our potential.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cPlaying in the domestic season helped me practice well and we saw quite a few girls against whom we\u2019ve not played previously. I was able to recommend a few names to my franchise after seeing these girls.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLast year, when we joined the team two days before the tournament, we didn\u2019t know about 90% of the players. We didn\u2019t know what they did and what they didn\u2019t. This year, it was important to know their strengths and weaknesses so that we can play better. The WPL is a short tournament and it\u2019s difficult to change things when it\u2019s on,\u201d said Smriti on JioCinema.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Asked if RCB shape up as title contenders of WPL 2024, Smriti said, \u201cWe don\u2019t want to think too far ahead. We definitely want to do better than last year and are motivated to do it. The people at our franchise are very nice and have supported us immensely, so more than anything else, we want to win the trophy for them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe way they backed us even after four losses last season, the conversation revolved around our well-being. So, as players, it is very important that we respect the backing we are getting, and also try to win the trophy for our fans who supported us so much last season.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smriti had a forgettable time with the bat in WPL 2023, making just 149 runs in eight matches at an average of 18.62 and strike-rate of 111.19. \u201cLast year, I was not able to deliver the performance expected of me. This time, I don\u2019t want to repeat the mistakes of last year and give the team a platform from where we can launch. Our batting line-up is very good. As a captain, I know the players better this time,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Her RCB team-mate, fast-bowler Renuka Singh Thakur, didn\u2019t have a great WPL 2023, but is now keen to put up a better performance. \u201cLast year my performance was not up to the mark, and I was wondering where this problem lay. The RCB team and the captain backed me whole-heartedly.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"In fact, I had given up, but they backed me. This time, I would not want to let them down and am confident of doing well. Last year, I think, I lacked that confidence because of the back injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Similar views were echoed by Deepti Sharma, all-rounder of UP Warriorz. \u201cThis time we\u2019ll try to enter the final and also win the trophy. Personally, I want to put up a better performance than 2023.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/02\/wpl-our-team-balance-has-improved-this-season-says-rcb-captain-smriti-mandhana.jpg", "alt_img": "WPL: 'Our team balance has improved this season', says RCB captain Smriti Mandhana", "alt_title": "Smriti Mandhana", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "WPL: 'Our Team Balance Has Improved This Season', Says RCB Captain Smriti Mandhana On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "WPL: 'Our Team Balance Has Improved This Season', Says RCB Captain Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore: Smriti Mandhana, the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Women\u2019s Premier League (WPL), believes the.", "seo_keywords": "Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Premier League, UP Warriorz, Chinnaswamy Stadium, From RCB, The WPL, Her RCB, Renuka Singh Thakur, The RCB, Deepti Sharma", "tag": "", "tagging": "Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Premier League, UP Warriorz, Chinnaswamy Stadium, From RCB, The WPL, Her RCB, Renuka Singh Thakur, The RCB, Deepti Sharma", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "wpl-our-team-balance-has-improved-this-season-says-rcb-captain-smriti-mandhana", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "1761", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-02-19 16:44:03", "updated": "2024-02-19 16:44:03", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Smriti Mandhana, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Premier League, UP Warriorz, Chinnaswamy Stadium, From RCB, The WPL, Her RCB, Renuka Singh Thakur, The RCB, Deepti Sharma", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-02-19 16:44:03", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/wpl-our-team-balance-has-improved-this-season-says-rcb-captain-smriti-mandhana-138591" }