Mumbai, Dec 6 (NationPress) After successfully reaching their objectives during the Women's Premier League (WPL) Mega Auction, the renowned Royal Challengers Bengaluru are entering the 2026 season with a fresh sense of optimism. Coach Malolan Rangarajan stated that they have assembled a formidable team.

Rangarajan emphasized that their primary focus at the auction was to construct the finest bowling attack while ensuring they retained their batting strength, and they accomplished this by acquiring multiple all-rounders.

During an appearance on JioHotstar, both RCB head coach Rangarajan and assistant coach Anya Shrubsole discussed their strategy, the significance of adding all-round talents such as Nadine de Klerk, Grace Harris, Pooja Vastrakar, and Arundhati Reddy, and emphasized the necessity for their squad to deliver results in upcoming matches.

“Patience yields rewards; that encapsulates our entire auction strategy. We remained patient while hefty sums were spent at the outset. Our preparation was vital. We precisely understood the type of players we required and how to construct our team. I'm thrilled with the players we have integrated into our squad,” Rangarajan reflected on the WPL Mega Auction.

He noted that since they were unable to secure Sophie Molineux in the auction, they concentrated on enhancing their existing combination.

“We had hoped to bring Sophie Molineux back, but she didn’t register for the auction. We prioritized improving our winning combination rather than making drastic changes. Our aim was to create the top bowling attack while preserving batting strength. With Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Ellyse Perry already on the team, the addition of Nadine de Klerk and Grace Harris offers us further options. Pooja Vastrakar and Arundhati Reddy provide both bowling versatility and batting depth. We sought a strong fielding unit, and I'm satisfied with our selections, but the true test will be on the field,” Rangarajan commented.

RCB does face some uncertainties regarding Pooja Vastrakar’s fitness, but the inclusion of Arundhati Reddy serves as a boost.

“A fully fit Pooja Vastrakar adds immense value to any team. She is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, and our updates suggest she may be ready in the coming weeks. With the WPL a month away, we have ample time to prepare her for matches. Arundhati Reddy is another exceptional addition, a World Cup champion, an outstanding fielder, and a bowler capable of excelling in all phases. She’s also a wonderful character to have on our side, so we’re very pleased with these signings,” Rangarajan stated.

In her segment on JioHotstar, RCB Assistant Coach Anya Shrubsole shared her contentment with the team’s auction selections:

“We were in search of a top-order batter to replace Georgia Wareham, who brings the same quality and power, and we found the ideal choice in Nadine de Klerk. We are absolutely delighted with that acquisition. Nadine de Klerk’s all-round capabilities make us very satisfied with our auction outcomes thus far.”