Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a dominant eight-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) match at Vadodara, riding on the outstanding performances from Renuka Singh, Georgia Wareham, and captain Smriti Mandhana. Former Indian captain Mithali Raj lauded RCB’s performance, highlighting the team’s control from the very first over. With this win, RCB has two wins in two matches and is at the top of the table. DC is in the third spot, with a win and loss each.

“Right from the first over when Renuka Singh dismissed Shafali Varma, RCB took control of the game. From that moment on, Smriti Mandhana has not put a foot wrong. Every bowling change she made resulted in a breakthrough. The way she led the innings, along with Danni Wyatt, provided a strong foundation for their batting line-up,” Raj said on JioHotstar.

After RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first, they were off a fine start as dangerous Shafali Varma gave a simple catch to Smriti Mandhana at mid-off on a Renuka Singh delivery on the very first ball of the innings.

Following this early setback, Jemimah Rodrigues joined her skipper Meg Lanning for a rebuild. Rodrigues pressed the acceleration in the button against Ekta Bisht and Joshitha, collecting some fours and sixes.

DC reached the 50-run mark in 5.4 overs, thanks to a six by Rodrigues.

The 60-run stand between the duo broke as Georgia Wareham got Jemimah stumped by Richa Ghosh for 34 in 22 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes. DC was 60/2 in 6.5 overs. Kim Garth also removed Lanning for 17 in 19 balls, with three fours. DC was 62/3 in 7.3 overs.

Annabel Sutherland and Marizanne Kapp took DC to 83/3 in 10 overs, with Sutherland (19*) and Kapp (4*) unbeaten. However, after the fall of Sutherland for 19 in 13 balls to Renuka thanks to a sharp catch by Smriti at extra cover, it was all downhill for DC. DC were restricted to 84/4 in 10.2 overs.

After that, DC had no big partnerships, though Sarah Bryce (23 in 19 balls, with two fours) and Shikha Pandey (14 in 15 balls, with a four) tried to put up a fight.

Wareham, Garth Renuka and Ekta Bisht tore apart the DC batting line-up, cleaning it up for 141 runs in 19.3 overs.

Renuka (3/23) and Wareham (3/25) were the pick of the bowlers for RCB, dismantling DC with their deadly mix of pace and spin. Garth (2/19) and Bisht (2/35) played a good supporting cast as well.

During the run-chase of 142 runs, openers skipper Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt Hodge gave a fine start to their team.

Mandhana set the tone for the innings with two boundaries against Kapp in the opening over, followed by Minnu Mani in the third over.

Hodge picked up as the powerplay’s end came closer, hitting Shikha Pandey for two fours.RCB reached the 50-run mark in 5.1 overs, thanks to a four by Danni over short third man.

At the end of powerplay, RCB was 57/0, with Mandhana (32*) and Danni (22*) unbeaten.

Mandhana had her foot on the accelerator, finding boundaries against Jess Jonassen, Sutherland.

The left-hander reached her half-century in 27 balls, with eight fours and a six.

With the help of a fine boundary by Danni through deep cover, RCB reached the 100-run mark in 10 overs.

The 107-run opening stand between Mandhana and Hodge was ended by Arundhati Reddy, removing Wyatt for 42 in 33 balls, with seven fours. Rodrigues took a fine catch at deep cover. RCB was 107/1 in 10.5 overs.

Mandhana’s bat kept delivering blows after the partnership broke, taking RCB to a brink of a victory. Jonassen and Sutherland were getting pummeled. Shikha ended Mandhana’s stay at 81 in 47 balls (with 10 fours and three sixes) thanks to a catch by Arundhati. RCB was 133/2 in 15.1 overs.

Richa finished off things in style with a six, with score of 146/2 in 16.1 overs, with Richa (11*) and Ellyse Perry (7*) unbeaten. Arundhati and Shikha took a wicket each for DC.

With this victory, RCB showcased their strength in both bowling and batting, reinforcing their position as strong contenders in the tournament.

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

Sneh Rana has previously played for Gujarat Giants in the WPL.© AFP

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.

Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry smashed forceful fifties as Royal Challengers Bengaluru pulled off the highest run chase in the history of Women’s Premier League to register a thrilling six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in Vadodara on Friday. Perry (57, 34b, 6×4, 2×6) and Ghosh (64 not out, 27b, 7×4, 4×6) were in sublime touch as defending champions RCB scaled down the target of 202 with ease in the tournament opener. It was a remarkable turnaround for RCB as they were tottering at 14 for two after second over, as Ashleigh Gardner ousted openers Smriti Mandhana (9) Danny Wyatt (4) in the space of four balls.

But from thereon, Perry and Raghavi Bist (25, 27b) added 86 runs for the third wicket to steady the ship, before the latter fell to pacer Deandra Dottin.

Perry, who was dropped on 19, made full use of that chance to punish Giants bowlers, who were highly wayward and buckled under pressure.

Perry, who is still recovering from a hip injury that she sustained during the recent Women’s Ashes, brought up her fifty with a six off Dottin off 27 balls.

The Aussie soon fell to Sayali Satghare while trying to up the ante, but Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja (30 not out, 13b, 4×4) took over from that point.

They pummelled the clueless GG bowlers during their 93-run stand as Ghosh, who was dropped on zero, made them pay with a 23-ball fifty.

It was enough for RCB to canter home as they whittled down 64 runs off the last five overs.

Earlier, contrasting fifties by skipper Gardner and veteran Beth Mooney guided Gujarat Giants to a healthy 201/5.

Mooney was conventional while striking 56 off 42 (8×4) but Gardner was all fire and brimstone en route a 79 off 37 balls (3×4, 8×6).

After losing Laura Wolvaardt and D Hemalatha with 41 on the board, Gujarat recovered well through Mooney and Gardner.

The Aussie pair added 44 runs for the third wicket, before Mooney perished playing a pull off leg-spinner Prema Rawat, giving a simple catch to Smriti Mandhana. But a bigger storm was awaiting RCB, as Gardner and West Indian Dottin (25, 13b, 3×4, 1×6) added 67 runs in just over five overs.

Unlike Mooney, who relied on placement, Gardner was more aggressive, using feet against spinners and hitting easily through the line against pacers.

The Australian gave a belting to Prema and India U19 pacer VJ Joshitha, clobbering them for three sixes each in an over.

Dottin fell to pacer Renuka Singh while going for a mighty heave.

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

Defending champions Royal Chellengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Gujarat Giants in the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 in Vadodara on Friday. RCB, under the leadership for Smriti Mandhana, defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) in a thrilling final last year to win the franchise’s first ever trophy. As the team bids for a second straight title, Mandhana shared her views on RCB fans. She pointed out that RCB fans, as compared to other sides, criticise their team as much as they appreciate them.

“I think for us, we don’t think much about what’s happening around. It is really important to focus on playing good cricket as a team, that’s a culture we are trying to set as a team because the fanbase of RCB is such that appreciation and criticism will be a little more as compared to other teams. It is important for us to stick together as a group,” Mandhana said on the eve of RCB’s opening match.

“Who will not want people chanting RCB everywhere you travel, so that’s a big positive,” she added.

Ahead of the start of the season, Mandhana exuded confidence in the current roster despite the injury woes and their impact on the franchise.

“Definitely, I think injuries have had a big impact in the last one and a half, two months for us, post the auction. But yeah, I think injuries are something which is not in our hands, and luckily, we had a good auction. We have really good youngsters and people who performed really well in domestic circuits, and also, our overseas replacements are really quality players,” Mandhana said in the pre-match press conference.

“So, for sure, I mean, the quality of both the sophies is unmatched. But having said that, I think playing for the people who’ve been injured, I think that’s something which will be in our mind for sure,” he added.

Virat Kohli, former captain of RCB’s men’s team, extended heartfelt wishes to the franchise’s women’s side for the WPL 2025 season.

“I would like to wish the women’s team all the very best for the upcoming WPL season. It’s amazing what you did last year and I just hope that you continue to ride that momentum and take that confidence into this tournament as well. There’s no shortage of talent as we had seen last year as well. I’m sure that with the load off your back already of winning the title, you will go out there and express yourselves and enjoy the support you get from fans all over India. I wish you all the very best for the upcoming season,” Kohli said.

File image of Smriti Mandhana.© BCCI

The third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is upon us, and Gujarat Giants are all set for their home debut as they take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Vadodara. Speaking ahead of the match, both Head Coach Michael Klinger and Captain Ashleigh Gardner shared their thoughts on the team’s readiness for the season and their excitement about playing at home for the first time. “Our first three games are in front of a Gujarat crowd. Hopefully, not just from Baroda, but fans from across the region will come in, wear orange, and support us. Last year, we had to play against RCB in Bangalore and Delhi Capitals in Delhi, and they had some big crowds there. It would be great if we can create the same atmosphere here,” Klinger was quoted in a release from Gujarat Giants as saying.

Gardner, who will lead the side for the first time, added, “We get to play in front of our home fans for the first time, which is exciting. I feel like we’ve built a really strong base with our fans, and hopefully, we can start the season the way we really want to–especially here at home, playing in front of our fans.”

In their home leg, Gujarat Giants will also face UP Warriorz on February 16, followed by Mumbai Indians on February 18. Speaking about the conditions at BCA Stadium, Klinger said, “The stadium looks fantastic, and from all reports, the wicket is really good–a proper batting wicket that will hopefully produce a lot of runs, mainly for our team, but either way, it’ll make for exciting cricket for the crowd.”

When asked about expectations for the season, the 27-year-old Aussie all-rounder said, “With the team we have at the moment, I think we can play some really competitive and exciting cricket, which is really cool.”

Meanwhile, Klinger revealed that the team will take an aggressive approach in the tournament.

“I think you can expect some attacking cricket. I feel we have the squad now, with the batting depth and firepower, to play really aggressively. We’ve set some targets that we’re looking to achieve, and we’re certainly aiming to play entertaining cricket,” Klinger said.

“But more than anything, I hope people see us as an enthusiastic group with a lot of energy. That will be most evident in our fielding because, for us, that’s a non-negotiable,” he concluded.

Gujarat Giants will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on February 14 at BCA Stadium in Vadodara.