FORMER and present skippers of senior Vidarbha squad Komal Zanzad and Disha Kasat were “super excited” on being picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore during the Women’s Premier League auction held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Monday. The 31-year-old uncapped left-arm fast medium pacer Komal, who performed well this year, evoked interest from RCB and Mumbai Indians. From her base price of Rs 10 lakh, she was picked by RCB for Rs 25 lakh after some serious bidding by the two teams. Current skipper Disha, who emerged as the top-run getter in domestic cricket this season in domestic Twenty20 cricket, was purchased by RCB at her base price of Rs 10 lakh. Both the players echoed similar sentiments after being selected for the maiden Women’s Premier League. “Super excited to be part of the first Women’s Premier League. It will be a great learning experience as we will get a chance to rub shoulders with India’s as well as world’s best at one platform,” said Komal and Disha while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. Both were confident of being picked up for the mega event. “I did well (in domestic cricket) and was expecting to be picked but with auctions you never know. I am very happy that I got a chance. There was that suspense where will I go (Mumbai Indians or RCB) during bidding,” said a happy Komal.

“After ending as top scorer in national event this season, I was very much confident of being selected. It will be a privilege to play alongside the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry. I will try to give my best while enjoying the game,” said the 25-year-old Disha with confidence. In 2018–19 season, in a Senior Women’s One-Day League match against Haryana, Komal took nine wickets for eight runs in December 2018. In January 2019, she was named in India Red’s team for the 2018–19 Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy. In February 2019, she was named in India’s Women’s Twenty20 International (WT20I) team for England series.

Disha, who emerged as one of the top-run getters in domestic cricket for last two seasons in domestic Twenty20 cricket, was purchased by RCB at her base price of Rs 10 lakh. A top-order batter, Disha is a handy off-spinner too. She was the only other Vidarbha player to be picked for Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy this season.

Former Vidarbha captain Bharti Fulmali, all-rounders Kanchan Nagwani and Janhvi Ranganathan went unsold.