RCB Signs Charlie Dean as Molineux's Replacement in WPL 2025

Synopsis

On January 16, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) announced the signing of England's off-spinner Charlie Dean to replace the injured Sophie Molineux for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. Molineux's absence due to a knee injury will be felt, as she was a key player in RCB's previous season.

Key Takeaways

RCB has signed Charlie Dean for Rs 30 Lakh.
Sophie Molineux is out due to a knee injury.
Dean has an impressive record with 122 wickets across formats.
WPL 2025 will feature new venues: Baroda and Lucknow.
RCB aims to defend their title with a strong squad.

Mumbai, Jan 16 (NationPress) The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have officially brought on board England's off-spinner Charlie Dean as a substitute for the injured Sophie Molineux ahead of the forthcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025.

Molineux will be sidelined for the third edition of the WPL due to a knee injury. Dean will be joining RCB for Rs 30 Lakh, as stated by the WPL.

The 24-year-old bowling all-rounder, Dean, has participated in 36 T20Is, 3 Tests, and 39 ODIs for England, accumulating 122 wickets across all formats in international cricket.

The injury to Molineux occurred following India’s tour of Australia in December last year, and she will not be fit in time for the upcoming season. The left-arm spin bowling all-rounder was a vital asset for RCB-W during the WPL 2024, claiming 12 wickets in 10 matches with an impressive economy rate of only 7.31, including a standout three-wicket over in the final that shifted the momentum against the Delhi Capitals.

Throughout the 2024 season, Molineux was part of a formidable spin trio alongside Asha Sobhana and Shreyanka Patil, the latter winning the Purple Cap, as they dominated opponents and led RCB to victory.

In the previous mini-auction, RCB secured Uttarakhand leg-spinner Prema Rawat for Rs 1.2 crore and also added Joshitha VJ, Raghvi Bist, and Jagravi Pawar for Rs 10 lakh each to round out their squad for the 2025 season.

The RCB squad for WPL 2025 includes: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sabbineni Meghana, Richa Ghosh (wk), Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, Sophie Molineux, Ekta Bisht, Kate Cross, Kanika Ahuja, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Prema Rawat, Joshitha VJ, Raghvi Bist, and Jagravi Pawar.

For the upcoming WPL 2025, the BCCI has decided to add two new venues alongside Mumbai and Bengaluru, with the league also taking place in Baroda and Lucknow. The precise number of matches at each location is still to be confirmed, as the WPL schedule is pending announcement.