Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, WPL 2025, Highlights© BCCI

Former India cricketer Mithali Raj praised Richa Ghosh’s stunning knock against Gujarat Giants (GG) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season opener and said that the 21-year-old played a blinder for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Friday. A half-century by Ellyse Perry and audacious ball-striking in death overs by half-centurion Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja helped defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) kickstart their Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign with a massive six-wicket win in Vadodara on Friday.

Speaking to JioHotstar, Mithali said that Richa provided solid support to Kanika Ahuja during the run chase. The former cricketer added that hailed both Kanika and Richa, saying the two youngsters played “outstanding innings”.

“When Richa Ghosh came in, she had just lost Ellyse Perry, and with Kanika Ahuja at the crease, both were new batters. They had to rebuild, especially with the asking rate over 12 runs per over. Richa Ghosh provided solid support to Kanika, who may not have hit big shots but still maintained a strike rate of over 200 with well-placed boundaries. That, in turn, allowed Richa to play her natural attacking game. We’ve seen her deliver impactful knocks for India, and today, she played a blinder for RCB, steering them to victory. Both Kanika and Richa played outstanding innings,” Mithali Raj was quoted in a release from JioHotstar as saying.

RCB won the toss and elected to field first. After being put to bat first, GG’s opening pair of Beth Mooney and Laura Wolvaardt took their time in picking up speed, with Mooney hitting some boundaries. However, Laura was cleaned up by Renuka Thakur for 6 (10 balls, with one four) by Renuka Singh.

It was captain Ashleigh Gardner’s unbeaten 79-run knock and Mooney’s 56 runs from 42 balls, which powered the Gujarat-based franchise to 201/5 in the first inning.

Renuka was the pick of the bowlers, conceding just 25 runs and getting two wickets. Kanika, Wareham and Prerna got one wicket each.

During the run-chase of 202, RCB openers Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge started with three fours in the first over, but Gardner pushed them back by removing both the openers in the next over.

Later in the second inning, Ellyse Perry (57), Richa Ghosh (64*) and Kanika Ahuja (30*) played a stupendous knock and chased down the target in just 18.3 overs, helping RCB clinch a 6-wicket triumph on Friday.

Gardner led the Giants’ bowling attack with her two wickets.

Richa Ghosh was named the ‘Player of the Match’ following her magnificent knock.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season started off with a bang, as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pulled off the highest-ever successful run chase in the history of the tournament, against Gujarat Giants (GG). Chasing 202, RCB seemed to be staring at defeat before a thunderbolt partnership of 93 off just 37 balls between India stars Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja took them over the line with more than an over to spare. Wicket-keeper batter Richa slammed an astonishing 64 off just 27 balls, and earned comparisons from fans to legendary Indian men’s wicket-keeper batter MS Dhoni.

Coming in to bat with RCB requiring around 12 runs an over, Richa smashed four sixes and seven boundaries to take the reigning champions home.

Richa’s knock saw fans compare her to Dhoni, widely regarded as one of the greatest finishers in white-ball cricket.

“Richa Ghosh just did a Dhoni… for RCB,” posted one user on X.

“Richa Ghosh is the mirror image of MS Dhoni,” said another fan.

“Richa’s WPL stats read 36/145 (average/strike rate), absolutely elite numbers for the role she’s playing. Some player…,” tweeted a third.

Richa Ghosh just did a Dhoni… for RCB pic.twitter.com/1ZcyrR0mMa

— yash. (@YaxhSinghTomar) February 14, 2025

Richa Ghosh is the mirror image of legend MS Dhoni https://t.co/15mzyKFBv6

— MOHAMMADUL ISLAM (@786MOHAMMADUL) February 14, 2025

Like this tweet if you think Richa Ghosh is a better finisher than MS Dhoni. https://t.co/HfogSMCgCO

— (@Jalebi_fafda__) February 14, 2025

Richa in the WPL stats read 36/145, absolutely elite numbers for the role she’s playing. Some player..

— Prashanth (@ps_it_is) February 14, 2025

Richa’s similarities to Dhoni are uncanny. Both hail from the eastern side of India (Richa from Siliguri, West Bengal; Dhoni from Ranchi, Jharkhand), and have built a reputation of being middle-order power-hitters with the ability to finish off games.

Richa was dropped first ball by Gujarat player Simran Shaikh, and was only on 15 runs after her first 12 balls. However, from there on, Richa went berserk, helping her team cross the line with nine balls to spare.

Still only 21, Richa had hit 257 runs at a strike rate of 142 as RCB lifted the title in 2024. If the first game of 2025 is anything to go by, she will well surpass that effort this time around.

Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: As it happened

A scintillating knock of 79 off 37 by captain Ashleigh Gardner had helped Gujarat post a daunting 201 on the board.

Fellow Australian Ellyse Perry set the foundation for the chase with a 34-ball 57. But when she got out, RCB still needed 93 more to win.

Richa’s knock was ably supported by Kanika Ahuja, who aced four boundaries in a knock of 30 off just 13 balls. Their partnership was scored at a run rate of 15.08 per over, the second-fastest partnership of 50 runs or beyond in WPL history.

RCB next take on Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025, on February 17.

WPL 2025 LIVE Updates: Here are the playing XIs –

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women: Smriti Mandhana(c), Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist, Richa Ghosh(w), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Prema Rawat, Joshitha V J, Renuka Thakur Singh

Gujarat Giants Women: Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney(w), Dayalan Hemalatha, Ashleigh Gardner(c), Deandra Dottin, Harleen Deol, Simran Shaikh, Tanuja Kanwar, Sayali Satghare, Priya Mishra, Kashvee Gautam

Star opener Smriti Mandhana, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh and all-rounder Deepti Sharma were on Saturday named in the ICC Women’s T20I Team of Year 2024 which was dominated by the Indians. Besides the three Indians, the ICC team has two South Africans, and one player each from Sri Lanka, England, West Indies, Australia, Ireland and Pakistan. Mandhana and Deepti were also named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year 2024 on Friday. Mandhana had an outstanding 2024, beginning the year with a brilliant 54 against Australia as she finished the year with three consecutive half-centuries against the West Indies at home.

Her consistent performances propelled her to the second spot in the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings, amassing 763 runs from 23 matches.

With eight half-centuries, including a highest score of 77, she maintained an impressive average of 42.38 and a strike rate of 126.53.

Richa’s explosive batting made her one of the standout performers for India last year, establishing her as one of the most exciting young talents in world cricket.

Having kicked off the year with a blistering 64 not out off 29 balls against UAE, she scored 365 runs with two fifites from 21 matches, at an average of 33.18, maintaining a strike rate of 156.65.

Deepti’s all-round contributions were key to India’s success in 2024.

With her off-spin, Deepti claimed 30 wickets at an average of 17.80, maintaining a tight economy rate of 6.01.

Her best performances included figures of 3/13 against Nepal and 3/20 against Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup, ensuring that she had a significant impact with both bat and ball throughout the year.

The ICC all-star team is captained by South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who led her team to significant victories, including a standout win over Australia in Canberra, where she scored 58 not out off 53 balls.

Wolvaardt’s remarkable performances earned her the No.5 spot in the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings.

Wolvaardt is joined by her teammate and all-rounder Marizanne Kapp in the Team, having contributed both with the bat and ball.

She scored a brilliant 75 against Australia in January and a quickfire 57 against India in Chennai.

Kapp also claimed 11 wickets with her seam bowling.

Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu also made the cut having led her team to victory in the Women’s Asia Cup, scoring two centuries, including a match-winning 119 not out in the final against India.

The team also has West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, Melie Kerr, the Player of the Tournament in their T20 World Cup triumph.

Kerr claimed 29 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 15.55. Her best performance was a 4/26 against Australia, which helped her team claim the title.

Irelish pace bowling all-rounder Orla Prendergast and Pakistani left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal complete the XI.

ICC Women’s T20I Team of 2024: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Marizanne Kapp (both SA); Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghos (wk) and Deepti Sharma (all Indians); Chamari Athapaththu (SL); Hayley Matthews (WI); Nat Sciver-Brunt (England); Melie Kerr (Australia), Orla Prendergast (Ireland) and Sadia Iqbal (Pakistan). TAP PDS PDS

File image of Smriti Mandhana.© BCCI

India stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana said the five-year wait they had to go through to win a T20I series at home did not “reflect” the team’s capabilities, a fact she reminded her colleagues ahead of the series decider here on Thursday. Put in to bat, India dished out a dominating batting display. Mandhana (77; 47b) set the foundation before Richa Ghosh (54; 21b) equalled the record for the joint-quickest fifty as the hosts posted their highest T20I total of 217/4. In response, West Indies were limited to 157/9 as India sealed the three-match series 2-1, their first series victory at home since 2019.

“After the last match, I told the girls it has been five years that we have not won a T20I series. That does not reflect the team we are,” Mandhana said.

“I told them that today, we have an opportunity to do that and we just want to keep doing the right things,” added Mandhana.

Mandhana hit a third successive fifty, continuing her red-hot form from the ODI series Down Under where she posted a century in the last match.

“The batting line-up we had, there were a few youngsters coming in, so there was a bit of added responsibility and that kind of thing goes well if you really put your head into it, and when I do that, I probably bat better.” “We lost all three tosses, so had to bat first and that is the harder thing to do (here). Really happy we could put up (a score) and loved the way Richa batted.” On the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, she said: “Harman has been a pillar in the middle-order. Whenever she is there, you know that if something happens, she will be there.” She was also all praise for rookie Raghvi Bist who made a fine 22-ball 31 not out.

“The girls stepped up beautifully. The way Raghvi batted was impressive. She came in with lots of intent and hitting her fourth or fifth ball for six, I would not have been able to do that in my second match.” Player-of-the-Match, Richa, credited the team’s strong start for the win.

“We got a good start, the way everyone batted. I just wanted to continue that and whenever the ball was in my slot, I tried to hit it,” said Richa.

“In the nets, I think about the match and try to clear (the fence). If the ball is in my slot, whether it is the first ball or the last ball, it does not matter. It feels very good when you contribute (towards such a win and such a series victory).” West Indies captain Hayley Matthews admitted their bowling lacked discipline on a challenging wicket.

“We probably did not bowl as well as we wanted to. It was one of those wickets where we had a very small margin for error. We were not on it with the ball and missed our lengths more often than we wanted,” Matthews said.

Richa Ghosh (54) equalled the world record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20Is (18 balls) after Smriti Mandhana‘s (77) fireworks as India registered 217 for 4 in the series-deciding third and final match against the West Indies here on Thursday. It was also India’s highest-ever total in the shortest format, going past the 201/5 against the UAE in the Asia Cup earlier this year. The 21-year-old Ghosh reached 54 off just 21 balls (3×4, 5×6), alongside equalling the record for the fastest fifty being jointly held by New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield.

Ghosh’s blitz came after Mandhana became the leading run-scorer in this format this year, reaching 763 runs in 23 T20Is, while smacking her third consecutive fifty of the series and eighth of the year.

She moved ahead of Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu in the run-scorer’s list.

Having erred in the second game by not putting enough runs on the board, India rode on Mandhana’s charge to get their runs at nearly 10 an over.

Her pull shots were as compelling as her strokes on the off-side, at times effortlessly clearing the in-field to stamp her authority.

Mandhana’s firework in the powerplay and beyond overshadowed Uma Chetry‘s two-ball duck in the first over and Rodrigues’ slow start in which she also survived a leg-before review against Hayley Matthews.

However, Rodrigues picked up well after a slow start to make 28-ball 39 with four boundaries, building a robust platform for a big total as the two put on 98 runs off 55 balls.

At No 4, Raghvi Bisht (31 not out off 22 balls, 2x4s, 1x6s) made her first impression on international circuit when she danced down the track to clear Karishma Ramharack for her first boundary of the career — a six — and scored runs on both sides of the wicket.

Bisht played a perfect second fiddle to both Mandhana and Ghosh, adding 44 and 70 runs respectively with the senior batting partners while gaining crucial experience herself.

But Mandhana again missed a hundred, as she walked back to the hut after making 77 from 47 balls with 13 fours and a six. It was her highest score in this series, and she was dismissed in the 15th over by Deandra Dottin.

India then made the right move by sending in hard-hitter Ghosh ahead of Deepti Sharma, and the young wicketkeeper-batter once again dazzled.

Ghosh showcased her prowess at the crease with powerful hits with the ball landing nearly into the stands, particularly on the leg side, with more than 40,000 in attendance here at the DY Patil Stadium. 

Harmanpreet Kaur was on Thursday retained as India captain for the three Women’s ODIs against New Zealand while the selectors also picked four uncapped players for the series starting October 24. Days after India’s early exit from the T20 World Cup, questions were raised about Harmanpreet’s future as captain after another failure in an ICC event. However, the selectors have decided to stick with her for the moment. The games against New Zealand in Ahmedabad will also mark the start of preparations for the ODI World Cup which India hosts next year.

Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, 21, was not available for the series as it was coinciding with her 12th standard board exams, said the BCCI in a statement.

Asha Sobhana was not considered due to injury while all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar has been rested.

The uncapped players who were part of the India A squad in Australia recently have been given an opportunity and they include Tejal Hasabnis, Sayali Satgare and Priya Mishra.

Pacer Saima Thakor, who has played in the WPL, is another uncapped member of the squad.

Smriti Mandhana, who was off coloured in the T20 World Cup, has been named vice-captain. Batter Uma Chetry, who has played four T20 Internationals, is also part of the team and could make her ODI debut in the series.

All three games will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedbad.

India’s squad for the three ODI series against New Zealand: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, D Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Sayali Satgare, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Tejal Hasabnis, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil.

India vs Sri Lanka Live Streaming Women’s T20 WC: When And Where To Watch© X (Twitter)