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RCB's latest auction buy weaves magic before WPL; outfoxes Lanning, Sutherland in WBBL

Debashis Sarangi

Linsey Smith bamboozled 2 key Stars' batters [Source: @WBBL/X]Linsey Smith bamboozled 2 key Stars' batters [Source: @WBBL/X]

Linsey Smith became a household name in India after she bagged a lucrative contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women's Premier League (WPL) auction. Days after joining RCB for the WPL 2026 season, the wily spinner grabbed the headlines with an impactful Women's Big Bash League outing, dismissing the legendary Meg Lanning and ace allrounder Annabel Sutherland. 

RCB's latest WPL buy deceives Lanning and Sutherland in WBBL

Linsey Smith played a pivotal role for Hobart Hurricanes Women, leading them to an emphatic win over Melbourne Stars in the ongoing WBBL season. Chasing a target of 179 runs in 17 overs was an anyway daunting task for the Stars in the rain-affected contest; however, Smith made matters worse for them, getting rid of their two most established batters- Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland. 

After Nicola Carey got rid of Rhys McKenna in the second over, Smith cleaned up Lanning in the very next over, tilting the game in the Hurricanes' favour. Two overs later, the left-arm spinner dismissed Annabel Sutherland, who was caught just outside the 30-yard circle while trying to break the shackles with an adventurous lofted shot. 

Although Linsey Smith went for 29 runs at a modest economy rate of 7.25, her knack for scalping wickets showcased why she will be a valuable asset for the Royal Challengers in the WPL 2026 season. 

Riding on her early breakthroughs, the Hurricanes comfortably restricted the Stars to 98, registering a clinical 81-run win by DLS method. 

Linsey Smith's WBBL 2025-26 exploits at a glance

Regarded for her guile and variations, Linsey Smith has been a force to reckon with the ball for Hobart Hurricanes. She has scalped 12 wickets in nine matches at an average of 20.33 and a strike rate of 15. She will fill Sophie Molineux's void in the RCB Women's squad and is expected to emerge as a game-changer for them in the WPL 2026.