Smriti Mandhana leads Indian presence as Richa, Deepti land deals in women's draft for The Hundred India’s Smriti Mandhana dominated the women’s player draft for The Hundred, securing a direct signing with Manchester Super Giants alongside Australia’s Meg Lanning and England’s Sophie Ecclestone. Compatriot Richa Ghosh also made headlines after being acquired by Manchester Super Giants for £50,000 (approximately ₹61 lakh), while all-rounder Deepti Sharma joined SunRisers Leeds at a reported £27,500 (around ₹34 lakh). The auction, held on March 11, 2026, saw 178 players compete for contracts, with 28 already retained or signed by franchises prior to the event. The Hundred, set to begin on July 21 and conclude on August 16, allocated a total purse of £880,000 per women’s franchise. After direct signings and retentions, Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Southern Brave, and Trent Rockets retained £520,000 each for the draft. Manchester Super Giants, MI London, SunRisers Leeds, and Welsh Fire had slightly larger budgets, with £570,000 remaining before bidding commenced. Richa Ghosh’s £50,000 deal marked a significant milestone for her career, as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter became the first player from her country to secure a contract in the league. Manchester Super Giants’ strategic move to sign both Mandhana and Ghosh strengthened their squad, while SunRisers Leeds’ acquisition of Deepti Sharma highlighted the team’s focus on experienced all-rounders. Notably, India’s Yastika Bhatia and Sree Charani were left out of the draft, failing to attract bids. The auction underscored the competitive nature of the league, with franchises vying for talent amid limited financial resources.#smriti_mandhana #sunrisers_leeds #richa_ghosh #deepti_sharma #manchester_super_giants
