English pace bowler Kate Cross has made a surprising switch in allegiances, joining the Royal Challengers Bangalore women’s team for the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. The 32-year-old, a self-proclaimed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fan in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was picked up by RCB for INR 30 lakh in the recent WPL auction.
Cross’ move to RCB was met with amusement from fans, especially considering her past tweets trolling the franchise. During the 2020 IPL season, Cross jokingly responded to a tweet by her England teammate Alexandra Hartley questioning RCB’s chances of winning a title with a picture of CSK captain MS Dhoni saying “Definitely Not.”
🙊 https://t.co/uHbbvvGaom pic.twitter.com/dBy37Tf2aQ
— Kate Cross (@katecross16) November 6, 2020
However, upon signing with RCB for the WPL, Cross revealed a hidden affection for the team. “Always had a soft spot for RCB, AI,” she confessed.
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This heartwarming development was met with joy by RCB fans and fellow players like Alexandra Hartley, who welcomed her to the “home” team.
Always had a soft spot for @RCBTweets, Al 😉 https://t.co/M3CazSYAaP pic.twitter.com/ZJsKwvfeCh
— Kate Cross (@katecross16) December 9, 2023
The WPL 2024 auction saw RCB strategically bolster their squad with several talented players. Alongside Cross, they acquired Georgia Wareham, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, and Sophie Molineux.
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After a disappointing 2023 season where they won only two games, RCB enters the WPL 2024 with renewed hope and excitement. The presence of star players like Ellyse Perry, Smriti Mandhana, Heather Knight, and now Kate Cross, makes their campaign in the upcoming season one to watch.
With a stronger squad and a dedicated fan base, RCB is determined to rewrite its WPL story and emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the 2024 edition.
