The 20-year-old left-handed bat’s move to the WBBL is a change of stance for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) who have always blocked it’s stars playing in Australia’s successful Twenty20 competition. It’s a tournament they have viewed as a rival to their own Indian Premier League.

Compatriot Harmanpreet Kaur has already signed for Sydney Thunder. Now Mandhana has joined the influx, India’s male stars are likely to follow.

Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Darwan and Suresh Raina are among the Indian men who have shone in the short format over the last few seasons and they’d be a major draw in the men’s BBL, which gets underway on 20 December.

“Hopefully the efforts of the Brisbane Heat (women’s side), and those of the Sydney Thunder too, can pave the way for more Indian players to experience the WBBL or the BBL in the future,” Heat general manager Andrew McShea said. “We are excited about Smriti joining us and we will ensure there is a professional, quality environment for her and (West Indian signing) Deandra Dottin when they join us.”