WPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore announce Sania Mirza as team mentor

The Indian tennis superstar finished runner-up in her final Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have appointed Sania Mirza as their mentor for the inaugural season of the Women's Premier League (WPL), which will be held in Mumbai from March 4 to 26. The WPL franchise announced the addition on Wednesday.

Sania has served as a role model for women in sports, inspiring many young girls to participate in sports and sporting activities. Mirza, a six-time Grand Slam winner, recently announced her retirement from tennis. She will play her final tournament later this month in Dubai.

She received the prestigious Padma Bhushan, Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, and Padma Shri. Sania is also the first Indian woman to win a tennis major championship. The tennis legend is expected to join the team after the ATP Dubai Open, which will be her final professional tournament.

"I was a little surprised [at being offered a mentorship role], but I was really excited," Mirza told RCB TV. "I want to make young girls believe sport can be one of the first career choices for them, I want to help the next generation into believing in themselves no matter how much the odds are against you, you can achieve your goals", Mirza said after her appointment.

What Rajesh V Menon, Head and Vice President of Royal Challengers Bangalore, said

“We are glad and honoured to welcome Sania Mirza as mentor of the RCB women’s team. She is the perfect role model with her success stemming out of her sheer hard work, passion, and determination, despite many challenges in her playing career. Sania is someone our young generation looks up to and she can motivate, encourage our team as she herself has been an uber-competitive player who understands how to overcome challenges and handle pressure in various situations at the highest level of sports.

"Her stature and gravitas as well as her attitude will inspire and bring the much-needed panache to transform the team with a Bold Personality.”

What Sania Mirza said on the appointment:

“It is a pleasure for me to join the RCB women’s team as a mentor. Indian women’s cricket has seen a tectonic shift with the Women’s Premier League, and I am really looking forward to being a part of this revolutionary pitch. RCB and its brand philosophy perfectly resonates with my vision and outlook as that’s how I have approached my playing career and it’s also how I see contributing to sports post my retirement.

"RCB has been a popular team and much-followed team in the IPL over the years. I am immensely happy to see them building a team for the Women’s Premier League as it will push the women’s sports to new heights in the country, open new doors to women cricketers and help make sports the first career choice for young girls and young parents with a girl child.”

RCB had a good run at the WPL 2023 auction, adding some key players to their squad. RCB's squad includes Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, senior Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, Australia's pace sensation Megan Schutt, England and South African skippers Heather Knight and Dane van Niekerk, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, and India's rising pacer Renuka Singh Thakur. The team will kick off its WPL campaign against the Delhi Capitals on March 5 at Brabourne Stadium.