Bengaluru, Feb 26 – After a crushing Super Over defeat to UP Warriorz, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be eager to regain their winning momentum when they face bottom-placed Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League (WPL) on Thursday.
RCB started the season on a high note with two emphatic wins but have since suffered back-to-back defeats against Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz, stalling their progress. With Delhi Capitals now leading the points table following their latest victory, RCB finds itself under pressure to bounce back.
RCB’s Struggles and Key Performers
The defeat to UP Warriorz was particularly agonizing for Smriti Mandhana’s team, as they failed to defend 42 runs in the last three overs, leading to a dramatic Super Over, where they managed a mere four runs."Disappointing to be on the losing side today. We did a lot of things right with both bat and ball, but things faltered towards the end. We will take that in our stride and come back stronger," said Mandhana after the match.
Mandhana’s individual form remains a concern. Apart from one significant knock, she has struggled across four innings, with off-spin continuing to be her weakness—having been dismissed 11 times by it in the WPL, the most by any batter.
On the brighter side, England’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge has provided consistency at the top, while Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry has been in red-hot form, scoring three half-centuries, including an unbeaten 90 in the last game. Perry, who had been nursing a hip injury, returned to bowl two overs in the last match, offering a major boost to RCB's balance.
However, RCB’s bowling remains a concern. Pacers Renuka Singh and Kim Garth have struggled with consistency, failing to maintain the right lengths, while their spinners Georgia Wareham, Ekta Bisht, and Kanika Ahuja have lacked control in the middle overs.
Gujarat Giants’ Batting Woes Continue
Gujarat Giants, sitting at the bottom of the table with just one win in four matches, are desperate for a turnaround. Their latest loss to Delhi Capitals was particularly dismal, as they barely managed to cross the 100-run mark.Despite reshuffling their batting order—promoting Harleen Deol as an opener and replacing the struggling Laura Wolvaardt with Phoebe Litchfield—their batting lineup has failed to click. Adding to their troubles, skipper Ashleigh Gardner, who started the season strongly, has hit a lean patch with both bat and ball.
The Giants have relied heavily on their overseas players, but if they are to revive their campaign, their Indian contingent must step up and deliver.
Match Details
- Fixture: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants
- Date: Thursday, February 29
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Bengaluru
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