Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana hasn’t done justice to her hefty price tag in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) season so far.

Mandhana, who was the costliest purchase in the WPL auction worth INR 3.4 crore, has scored 35, 23, 18 and 4 as RCB suffered four successive defeats in the tournament so far.

However, star all-rounder Ellyse Perry backed has her captain, saying that she just needs a chance to “find her feet” in the T20 competition.

“Knowing Smriti and how proud and responsible she is for her own game, there’s probably no more pressure on her than what she is putting on herself,” she said after RCB’s 10-wicket hammering against UP Warriorz.

Perry hoped the Indian opener would overcome this phase and come out with a “better version” of herself.

“It’s a ginormous task to come into a brand new competition and play with a group of players that she has never played with before and try and make that all gel in a matter of a couple of days since she joined the group,” the 32-year-old said.

“I think she’s a great captain too. She just needs a chance to find her feet in the tournament and she will no doubt. But the bigger picture (is), it’s just going to mean we are going to see an even better version of Smriti after this.”

“There’s so much that she has learned from this competition already, both as a captain and as a batter, to make her even better in the future. She’s only a youngster right.”

On the other hand, Smriti Mandhana has taken the blame for her team’s dismal showing.

“In the last four games, it’s been happening. We start well and then lose a cluster of wickets. I take the blame as well,” Smriti said.

“Need to get runs on the board for the bowlers to defend. Overs 7-15 we spoke about getting 7-8 per over. We’re trying to get a balanced team. Let’s see how it goes.”

RCB will take on Delhi Capitals in their next match at the DY Patil Stadium on Monday (March 13).

(With PTI Inputs)