"We Did Our Best": RCB Coach Opens Up on Missing Out on Sophie Molineux
RCB head coach Malolan Rangaranjan opens up on the battle for Sophie Molineux and the strategic signing of Jess Jonassen for WPL 2027.
The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), entered the WPL Auction 2027 with a clear mission: to retain the magic of their title-winning formula. However, the auction room is often unpredictable, and for RCB, the biggest heartbreak was failing to bring back a pivotal figure from their championship run—Australian star Sophie Molineux.
Molineux, who was instrumental in RCB's maiden title victory with 12 wickets in 10 matches (including a stellar 3/20 in the 2024 final against Delhi Capitals), became the most expensive player of the auction. She was snapped up by the UP Warriorz for a whopping Rs 1.1 crore.
The Bidding War: A Budgetary Battle
Speaking on JioStar’s 'Match Centre Live Auction Special', RCB head coach Malolan Rangaranjan admitted that the team pushed their limits to secure the Australian skipper. With a budget of Rs 1.15 crores, RCB fought the bidding war up to Rs 1.05 crores before being outbid.
"When you have Rs 1.15 crores, and you go till Rs 1.05 crores for her, I think we did the best we could to get her back," Malolan stated. "We also have to recognise that we did win the championship last year. So, we would have loved to have her in our squad, and we tried to demonstrate that."
Despite the disappointment, the coach maintained a sporting spirit, wishing the "gun cricketer" the best of luck with the UP Warriorz, while acknowledging that such is the nature of the auction process.
The Strategic Pivot: Enter Jess Jonassen
While losing Molineux was a blow, RCB didn't leave the auction empty-handed. The franchise strategically pivoted to secure Australian veteran Jess Jonassen for Rs 40 Lakhs. Jonassen brings a wealth of experience and a versatile skill set that the coaching staff believes will plug the gaps in their roster.
Why Jess Jonassen?
Malolan highlighted several key reasons why Jonassen is a vital addition to the squad:
- Bowling Versatility: Her left-arm spin is seen as a potent option for the powerplay, middle overs, and the death overs.
- Batting Depth: Her ability to slot into the batting order anywhere between number four and six provides crucial flexibility.
- Proven Track Record: In three WPL seasons with Delhi Capitals, Jonassen scored 295 runs (including two fifties) and claimed 33 wickets at an average of 20.75.
Addressing the Fitness Concern
The signing of Jonassen comes with a caveat—she is currently nursing an injury and will miss this year's Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). However, the RCB camp remains optimistic. Malolan revealed that the current expectation is for her to be fit by the end of December, allowing her to play a few domestic List-A games in Australia before arriving for the WPL.
The coach emphasized that the team was fully aware of her fitness status and has backup plans in place if required, but the potential upside of having "JJ" in the team outweighs the risks.
RCB's New Reinforcements
Beyond Jonassen, RCB added three other players to bolster their championship-defending squad:
- Chloe Tryon: South African all-rounder signed for Rs 30 Lakhs.
- Tejal Hasabnis: Indian batter acquired for Rs 30 Lakhs.
- Vrinda Dinesh: Indian batter signed for Rs 10 Lakhs.
The Complete RCB WPL Squad:
The defending champions will move forward with a blend of retained stars and new faces:
Retained Players: Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Richa Ghosh, Prathyoosha Kumar, Lauren Bell, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, and Prema Rawat.
New Signings: Jess Jonassen, Chloe Tryon, Tejal Hasabnis, and Vrinda Dinesh.