India’s vice-captain and batting mainstay, Smriti Mandhana, was signed by the Manchester Super Giants ahead of the women’s The Hundred competition later this year. The 29-year-old was signed along with former Australian captain Meg Lanning and England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
The left-hander has played in the competition in the past for the Southern Brave, where, between 2021 and 2024, she made 676 runs in 29 innings at a strike rate of 139.09 and was part of the squad that won the tournament in 2023.
The women’s team will be coached by Matthew Mott, who coached Australia to the T20 World Cup win in 2020 and was at the helm when the side won the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup.
The 2026 edition will commence on July 21, just over a fortnight after the end of the women’s T20 World Cup, with the final slated to take place on August 16.
The Super Giants have undergone a big transformation since being rebranded from the Originals, following investment by the RPSG Group. The conglomerate also owns other global cricket franchises, including Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League and Durban Super Giants in SA20.
Mandhana, one of the most consistent and stylish batters in modern women’s cricket, will bring both experience and firepower to the Super Giants’ top order.
The men’s team will revolve around former World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler, and he will be joined by South Africa’s Heinrich Klassen as well as Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmed. England’s Liam Dawson will also be a part of the setup.
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Justin Langer, who coaches LSG in the IPL, will coach the men’s side. Both Buttler and Ecclestone have been with the Manchester franchise in The Hundred for their entire careers. Under the Manchester Originals banner, the men’s side came close to success, reaching the finals in both 2022 and 2023.
