WPL 2025: Ellyse Perry Reflects on a Challenging Season for RCB

New Delhi, March 12 (NationPress) Following their failure to reach the playoffs in the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Ellyse Perry recognized that the season proved to be quite challenging for her team, who felt let down by some performances that fell below expectations.

The defending champions RCB commenced their journey robustly with two consecutive victories, but encountered five consecutive defeats, including losses in all four of their matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, ultimately resulting in their playoff elimination.

Compounding their struggles were injuries to key players such as Kate Cross, Sophie Devine, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, and Sophie Molineux before the season began. However, RCB concluded their campaign positively, securing an 11-run victory against Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium, preventing their rivals from securing a direct place in the finals.

"This season has certainly been tricky for us. We kicked off with some impressive wins and wrapped things up with another victory tonight. Nonetheless, we lost several tight matches and had a few performances that didn’t meet our standards, which is disappointing. Despite that, it’s been a remarkably enjoyable season within a fantastic competition.

“Representing RCB has been a wonderful experience, especially due to our fans. The support we get, particularly in Bengaluru, has been phenomenal, and it's been delightful to see fans showing up for us at various venues. It's hard to pinpoint a favorite venue, but Chinnaswamy Stadium holds a special place for us.

“However, the matches in Baroda at the tournament's outset were fantastic, and competing in Mumbai and Lucknow also added great diversity. The ability to play in multiple venues has been an excellent experience, and I hope fans have enjoyed attending the matches,” Ellyse told JioHotstar.

Mithali Raj, the former captain of the India women’s team, noted that the crucial finishing touches at the end from the bat played a significant role in RCB’s victory over MI on a flat Brabourne pitch. “I think RCB entered this game with nothing to lose. They were coming off a loss, but in their previous match, they nearly chased down 225, showcasing how well their batting has come together.”

“In this match, they set an impressive total of 199. It was fantastic to see Smriti Mandhana back in form, alongside notable performances from Richa Ghosh and Georgia Wareham. The last five overs were crucial, where they amassed over 70 runs, finishing on a high note.

“That final flourish was pivotal. On this pitch, 199 is a competitive total. While it can be chased, disciplined bowling with tight lines can make it hard for the opposition. RCB executed their strategies effectively, which reflected in the match's outcome,” she explained.

Mumbai Indians are set to face Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on Thursday, and Mithali believes this matchup will be intriguing, as the winner will advance to meet Delhi Capitals in the finals on Saturday.

"It’s going to be a very interesting match. From Mumbai Indians' viewpoint, they have successfully defended a total in one match after winning the toss, while they were unable to chase in another.

“Thus, it will be fascinating to see their strategy if they win the toss this time. On the flip side, Ashleigh Gardner has consistently chosen to chase whenever she has won the toss. However, Gujarat Giants have also achieved a victory while defending. It will be captivating to observe how both captains approach their tactics on this pitch, especially given the high-stakes nature of the eliminator,” Mithali concluded.