The 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicked off in sensational fashion as Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) pulled off a record-breaking chase to defeat Gujarat Giants Women (GGTW) by 6 wickets in Vadodara. The high-scoring encounter saw RCB chase down a daunting target of 202, marking the highest successful run chase in WPL history.
RCBW 202/4 (18.3) def. GGTW 201/5 (20) | RCBW won by 6 wickets
Match Summary
Gujarat Giants Women (1st Innings) – 201/5 (20 overs)
- Ashleigh Gardner led from the front, smashing boundaries at will.
- The middle-order fired consistently, propelling the team to a strong total of 201.
- However, the Giants’ fielding woes would later come back to haunt them.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (2nd Innings) – 202/4 (18.3 overs)
- The chase began on a shaky note, losing Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the second over.
- Ellyse Perry (58) anchored the innings with a composed knock after surviving two early chances.
- Richa Ghosh (64)* and Kanika Ahuja (48)* turned the game on its head with a stunning 93-run unbeaten stand off just 37 balls.
Key Moments & Performances
Player of the Match – Richa Ghosh:
- Blazed her way to an unbeaten 64 off 27 balls with 7 fours & 4 sixes.
- Ghosh’s fearless hitting dismantled Gujarat’s bowlers in the death overs.
- “The plan was simple: see the ball, hit the ball,” she said post-match.
Kanika Ahuja’s Cameo:
- Ahuja’s 48 off 24 balls* perfectly complemented Ghosh’s fireworks.
- The duo’s partnership featured a staggering run rate of 15.08, the second-highest for a 50+ stand in WPL history.
Gujarat’s Fielding Nightmares:
- Dropped catches of Perry (twice) and Ghosh (once) proved costly.
- Misfields, missed run-outs, and poor execution in the death overs handed RCB the advantage.
Match Stats & Records Broken
- Highest successful run chase in WPL: 202 by RCB
- Second-highest aggregate in a WPL match: 403 runs combined
- Third-highest partnership for RCB: 93 (Ahuja-Ghosh)
- Second-most sixes in a WPL match: 16 sixes
Captain & Player Reactions
Richa Ghosh (PoTM):
“The plan was to stay calm and take the game deep. It’s about trusting your natural game and believing in the preparation.”
Smriti Mandhana (RCB Captain):
“Really proud of the girls. We believed in chasing this down because of the dew factor. Kanika and Richa were exceptional tonight.”
Ashleigh Gardner (GG Captain):
“Flattening, to be honest. We had the game in control, but dropped catches cost us big time. Richa played an outstanding knock.”🏏
Conclusion
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women kicked off their title defense in style with a spectacular win, sending a strong statement to the rest of the league. Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, have a lot to ponder, especially in the fielding department.
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The WPL 2025 is just getting started – stay tuned for more action!