After facing difficulties in the previous season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023, where Royal Challengers Bangalore failed to reach the playoffs, the team led by Smiriti Mandhana has bounced back stronger in the 2024 edition. They kicked off the season with a thrilling two-run victory against UP Warriorz at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore and are now gearing up to face Gujarat Giants on February 27.
However, Gujarat Giants seem to lack firepower compared to RCB. While they boast talented foreign players like Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, and Lea Tuhuhu, their Indian contingent appears to be relatively weaker. On the other hand, RCB has Indian players like Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, and Renuka Singh, who have the potential to be match-winners.
Ecstatic scenes in the RCB camp right after the thrilling win against UP Warriorz, captured on Game Day!
Smriti and the girls express gratitude to Bengaluru’s crowd support, congratulate Asha for her match-winning fifer and more. #PlayBold #SheIsBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #WPL2024… pic.twitter.com/mHKO497del
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 25, 2024
Tanuja Kanwar’s all-round performance is a positive for Gujarat, but they will heavily rely on their foreign players to make an impact against Bangalore. Mooney, Gardner, and Litchfield possess the ability to turn the game in their favor.
RCB, meanwhile, will be buoyed by the promising performances of Sabbhineni Meghana and Richa in the previous match. With stalwarts like Mandhana and Ellyse Perry in their ranks, along with impressive bowling performances, especially from Asha Sobhana who created history by picking up a five-for in the WPL, RCB looks well-equipped for success.
Pitch Report
The M Chinnaswamy Stadium typically offers batting-friendly wickets, but bowlers have also found success in the ongoing season. Given the conditions, bowling first would be advantageous, and anything above 10 runs per over would be considered a decent total.
RCB Probable Playing XI
Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Sabbhineni Meghana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Shreyanka Patil, Simran Bahadur, Sobhana Asha, Renuka Thakur Singh
GG Probable Playing XI
Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Sabbhineni Meghana, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Shreyanka Patil, Simran Bahadur, Sobhana Asha, Renuka Thakur Singh
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