Cricket fans’ anticipation for some thrilling short-format action will be fulfilled with the start of the third edition of the 100-ball competition, The Hundred, following the excitement of the Ashes 2023 in England that Australia won.
The tournament will commence at the Trent Bridge stadium with the defending men’s champions, Trent Rockets, and the inaugural men’s winners, Southern Brave taking on each other on the opening day.
As the men’s and women’s competitions run concurrently in The Hundred, spectators, and players will get to witness a diverse array of talent at each venue.
This time, the event boasts star representation from around the world, including a few Indian players. Compared to the 2022 edition, the number of Indian players has increased, with new additions to the roster. Let’s take a look at the players.
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana, the Indian vice-captain, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian player to participate in all three seasons of the Hundred tournament. She initially made her mark as one of the standout performers for Southern Brave during the inaugural edition.
Following her impressive performances, the team decided to retain her for the second season, despite her early departure. Now, in the third season, Mandhana has been retained once again by Southern Brave, making her the sole Indian player to receive this honor in the women’s Hundred competition.
Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian captain, is making a comeback to the Hundred after sitting out the 2022 season. This time, she will be representing a new team.
In the inaugural season, Harmanpreet played for Manchester Originals, but for the 2023 edition, she has been picked by the Trent Rockets. This reunion will see her teaming up with her Mumbai Indians teammate, Nat Sciver-Brunt, adding to the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season of the Hundred tournament.
Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues, the Mumbai and Team India batter, became the latest Indian signing of the season. Her participation in the 2023 edition seemed uncertain after not being picked in the draft, despite playing for the Northern Superchargers in the first two seasons. However, luck favored her when a late injury to Australian cricketer Heather Graham opened up an opportunity for Jemimah to make a comeback to the same team she had represented in the previous seasons.
Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh, the talented Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has been announced as the first injury replacement of the season. With her experience playing for Hobart Hurricanes in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), Ghosh has caught the attention of franchises. Now, she is all set to make her debut in the Hundred tournament, stepping in for Georgia Redmayne in the London Spirit squad.
