Still reeling from their dramatic Super Over loss, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will look to bounce back when they take on bottom-placed Gujarat Giants on Thursday. The defending champions began their WPL 2025 campaign on a high note with two commanding victories but have since stumbled with consecutive defeats to Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz.
With Delhi Capitals surging to the top after their recent triumph, RCB is desperate to regain momentum and stay in contention for the playoffs.
Gujarat Giants’ Struggles Continue
Gujarat Giants remain rooted to the bottom of the table, managing just one win in four matches. Their recent defeat to Delhi Capitals was particularly dismal, as they barely scraped past the 100-run mark.
The loss to UP Warriorz will haunt Smriti Mandhana and Co., as they failed to defend 42 runs in the last three overs, eventually succumbing in the Super Over after managing just four runs.
“Disappointing to be on the losing side today. Mandhana reflected on the match, stating, “We executed many aspects well with both bat and ball, but stumbled towards the end. We’ll learn from this and return even stronger.”
RCB’s Key Players and Concerns
Mandhana’s form remains a concern, with just one substantial knock in four innings. Off-spin continues to trouble her, having been dismissed by it 11 times in WPL history—more than any other batter.
However, Danni Wyatt-Hodge has provided stability at the top, while Ellyse Perry has been in sensational touch, notching three half-centuries, including a brilliant unbeaten 90 in the last game. Perry’s return to bowling after a hip injury has also strengthened RCB’s squad balance.
Bowling Woes for RCB
While their batting lineup has been promising, RCB’s bowling attack has struggled:
- Renuka Singh and Kim Garth have lacked consistency, often misjudging their lengths.
- Georgia Wareham, Ekta Bisht, and Kanika Ahuja have failed to control the middle overs, allowing opponents to dictate the game.
Gujarat’s Batting Troubles
Gujarat’s batting unit has been highly inconsistent. In a desperate attempt to fix their top order, they promoted Harleen Deol as an opener and replaced Laura Wolvaardt with Phoebe Litchfield, but the move backfired. Their continued struggles with the bat leave them vulnerable against Royal Challengers Bengaluru desperate bid for victory.
With both teams eager to get back on track, the upcoming clash promises to be a high-stakes battle in the WPL 2025.
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