WPL 2025: Delhi Capitals Opt to Bowl First Against RCB
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Synopsis
Delhi Capitals won the toss and chose to bowl first against RCB in the WPL 2025 match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Both teams made one change to their lineups, with the Capitals looking to reverse their losing streak and RCB aiming for a home win.
Key Takeaways
- Delhi Capitals won the toss and chose to bowl.
- RCB has lost three consecutive matches.
- Smriti Mandhana emphasizes the importance of home support.
- Both teams made one change in their playing XI.
- The Capitals aim for a second win in as many days.
Bengaluru, March 1 (NationPress) Delhi Capitals have successfully won the toss and opted to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 14th match of the tournament at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday. Both teams enter the match with a single change: the Delhi Capitals have introduced Nallapureddy Charani in place of Titas Sadhu, while RCB has brought in Ekta Bisht for Prema Rawat.
So far this season, the team that has chosen to field first has triumphed in 12 out of 13 matches. In their WPL encounters, the two teams have faced each other six times, including the final of the 2024 edition, which RCB won. Overall, Delhi leads the head-to-head series with a record of 4-2.
The defending champions entered their home leg with an unbeaten streak and held the top position in the WPL standings, but they have since suffered three consecutive losses. The match against the Capitals offers Smriti Mandhana's team an opportunity to secure a victory for their home fans before the competition moves to the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow starting Sunday.
“I would have preferred to bowl first today. After losing four tosses in a row, I need to be prepared for batting. (to the crowd) They have supported us in large numbers in the last three matches, but we haven't delivered much. This is our last home game, and we hope to make them proud today. While maintaining a fresh mindset is essential, in franchise cricket, predicting outcomes can be difficult. We had a constructive discussion, and the girls are feeling very positive. In our last two encounters with Delhi, we played positively, and our bowlers dominated. We must perform well today to aim for our first home win,” Smriti expressed at the toss.
Conversely, the Capitals are playing their second match in consecutive days, coming off a significant nine-wicket victory against the Mumbai Indians, which lifted them to the top of the standings.
“We are bowling first. That strategy has worked well for us throughout the tournament. However, today is a new day, and facing RCB is a considerable challenge. We strive to stay focused throughout the day and return energized for this match. We don’t depend on just one or two players. We possess good depth in our squad, and we will rely on them tonight,” Lanning stated during the toss.
Playing XIs:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana(c), Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh(w), Raghvi Bist, Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kim Garth, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh Thakur, Ekta Bisht
Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning (c), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Sarah Bryce(w), Niki Prasad, Shikha Pandey, Minnu Mani, Nallapureddy Charani
