WPL 2025: Smriti Commends RCB's Middle-Order Brilliance in Season Opener

Synopsis

In the WPL 2025 opener, RCB’s Smriti Mandhana praised Richa Ghosh and Elysse Perry for their outstanding performances, leading to a historic chase against Gujarat Giants at Kotambi Stadium. Despite a weakened bowling attack, Mandhana expressed confidence in her team’s potential for improvement.

Key Takeaways

Smriti Mandhana praised her team's performance.
Richa Ghosh scored a remarkable 64 runs.
Elysse Perry contributed significantly with 57 runs.
RCB achieved the highest run chase in WPL history.
Team faces challenges with injuries to key bowlers.

Vadodara, Feb 15 (NationPress): The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Smriti Mandhana, praised Richa Ghosh and Elysse Perry for spearheading the team to a remarkable victory against Gujarat Giants in the inaugural match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, held at the Kotambi Stadium today.

Perry, who was last season's Orange Cap holder, was thrust into the spotlight after both openers fell in the first over, facing one of the most challenging run chases in league history. However, she dazzled with a swift 57 runs off just 34 balls, featuring six boundaries and two sixes, before being dismissed while trying to clear the long-on boundary.

Following her, Richa Ghosh turned the tide alongside Kanika Ahuja (30 not out), showcasing her explosive batting skills with a phenomenal 64 runs from just 24 balls, thus achieving the highest run chase in WPL history. “I am really delighted that we emerged victorious. The way Richa and Pez (Perry) played was a sight to behold,” Smriti expressed after the match.

When discussing the middle-order batting performance, Smriti remarked that it was a joy to observe. “It was brilliant to witness; they have been practicing hard in the nets. I’m genuinely pleased that everything fell into place. After the first innings, we anticipated a tough bowling challenge, but we always felt we were still in the game,” she noted during the post-match presentation.

RCB kicked off the new season with a significantly weakened bowling lineup compared to their 2024 championship-winning squad, as last year’s Purple Cap winner, Shreyanka Patel, along with Sophie Molineux and Asha Shobana, are sidelined due to injuries.

The trio had collectively secured 37 wickets last season, being the top three wicket-takers in the tournament. Smriti acknowledged their absence, stating that her team must improve in several areas, especially in bowling and fielding. “We lost our top three wicket-takers from last year, but fortunately, we have good replacements. The newcomers are excellent, which is a plus. There’s much to work on regarding our bowling and fielding, so we will have extensive discussions about it,” she added.