Smriti Mandhana vs Harmanpreet Kaur: Who has been retained for a higher amount ahead of WPL 2025 Auction?
Both Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur have been retained by their respective franchises ahead of the WPL 2025 auction. Mandhana led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to victory in the 2024 Women's Premier League. Before that, Harmanpreet guided Mumbai Indians (MI) to victory in the inaugural edition of the competition in 2023.
Speaking of retention prices for the two superstars of Indian women's cricket, Mandhana was purchased by RCB for ₹3.4 crore ahead of the inaugural edition of the tournament. She has been retained by the franchise for the same salary. As of now, Team India's vice-captain remains the most expensive player in the WPL.
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have retained Harmanpreet for her original salary of ₹1.8 crore. Like Mandhana, the Indian captain was also purchased by her franchise ahead of the WPL 2023 edition and was retained for the same price for the 2024 edition as well.
Smriti Mandhana vs Harmanpreet Kaur: Comparing their WPL records
Mandhana is seventh on the list of leading run-getters in the Women's Premier League. In 18 innings, she has 449 runs to her name at an average of 24.94 and a strike rate of 125.41, with two half-centuries, which includes a best of 80.
The left-hander scored 300 runs in 10 innings in WPL 2024 at a strike rate of 133.92. The RCB skipper had an extremely disappointing campaign in 2023, managing only 149 runs in eight innings at an average of 18.62 and a strike rate of 111.19, with a best of 37.
Harmanpreet is fourth on the list of leading run-getters in the WPL. In 16 innings, she has notched up 549 runs at an average of 45.75 and a strike rate of 137.93, with the aid of five half-centuries, which includes a best of 95*.
The Mumbai Indians captain contributed 281 runs in 10 innings during the 2023 edition, averaging 40.14 at a strike rate of 135.09, with three fifties. In WPL 2024, the aggressive batter hit 268 runs in seven innings at an average of 53.60 and a strike rate of 141.05, with two half-centuries.