🏏WPL 2025: Match 15 - GG W vs UP Warriorz W at Lucknow, 03/03/25🏏 - Page 2

Thanks for the thread and the tag

Thank you, Raji, for the thread and for tagging.

I am a big fan of Manthana. Best wishes to both the teams.

After a fairytale redemption curve - from five straight losses in WPL 2023 to securing the franchise's maiden trophy the following year - Royal Challengers Bengaluru are in a pickle even before their title defense could begin. Sophie Molineux is out injured, Sophie Devine has taken a break from cricket and Kate Cross, although uncapped, has withdrawn to complete rehab. Shreyanka Patil (shin) and Asha Sobhana (knee), the vital cogs of their spin attack last season, are doubtful starters due to long injury layoffs, while Ellyse Perry, having just recovered from a hip injury she sustained during the Women's Ashes, might just start the season as pure batter. A plethora of replacements have been called in, and RCB's biggest challenge this year - like in the inaugural season - would be to gel as a unit once again in quick turnaround time. This season, therefore, will be a true test of leadership for Smriti Mandhana, who has had a dream run in white-ball cricket in the 2024-25 season thus far.

Where they finished in WPL 2024: Champions

Auction round-up: Danielle Wyat-Hodge was a pre-auction trade-in from UP Warriorz, and will now likely form the new opening pair with the captain. At the mini auction, RCB broke the bank to secure the services of legspinning all-rounder Prema Rawat, who can be a handy bat down the order, for INR 1.2 crore. Their three other buys were all at base price of INR 10 lakh - the U-19 World Cup winner Joshitha VJ, batting all-rounder Raghvi Bist who's since made her India debut, and Mumbai spinner Jagravi Pawar.

Newsmaker(s): She spent her first year in WPL warming the bench at UPW and at the time of the trade-in, Wyatt-Hodge didn't seem like a sure-starter for RCB who had their opening pair set since the very first game of the competition. However, the many injuries and availability concerns around RCB's first-choice XI have bumped up her chances significantly and Wyatt-Hodge would be expected to hit the ground running. Meanwhile, Perry's arrival ahead of the team's departure for Vadodara was a much-needed breather for the beleaguered team.

Watch out for: Raghvi Bist

A hard-hitting middle-order batter who also bowls seam, Bist can form a potent partnership with Richa Ghosh down the order. The Uttarakhand batter first hogged limelight at the international stage with a hat-trick of half-centuries against Australia A in Mackay on India A's multi-format tour, and was the highest run-scorer of the 50-overs leg. She made her T20I debut two days after being picked by RCB in the auction, and went on to make a brisk 31* in the third and final game of the series against West Indies, forging crucial partnerships with both her future RCB teammates Mandhana and Ghosh.

Schedule: RCB are the only team of the five to get a complete home leg of four league games. They kickstart their campaign in Vadodara against the hosts, Gujarat Giants, on the opening night, and also take on Delhi Capitals there two days later. They take on each of the four opponents at home in the next leg before heading to Lucknow and Mumbai for their final away games against UPW and MI respectively.

Outlook: To say Gujarat Giants have underperformed in seasons one and two would be soft-pedalling their issues. From controversies to injuries, Giants have had a forgettable two years so far and would be looking to get third-time lucky as they bid for the playoffs spot with a refurbished leadership group overseen by head coach Michael Klinger. With a strong Australian core at its heart, the GG side doesn't lack firepower but the rawness of its domestic contingent has often let them down. That said, three of the Giants' players have gone on to make their India white-ball debut between the two editions, while Harleen Deol - who had her season cut short last year due to an ACL injury - has made a successful comeback with a maiden ODI century to boot. The inexperience of their pace-bowling unit may be a glaring weakness that Giants would be hoping to mask with its potent and varied spin attack, to be led by their new captain Ashleigh Gardner.

Where they finished in WPL 2024: Bottom of the table, for the second successive season.

Newsmaker(s): The Giants have stayed in the news for big shake-ups, including the overhaul of their back-room staff. Klinger stays, but the Giants have parted ways with former India duo of Nooshin Al Khadeer (assistant coach) and Mithali Raj (mentor). Then came the re-signing of Deandra Dottin. And just ahead of the new season, GG have also announced a captaincy change with Australian all-rounder Gardner taking over from compatriot Beth Mooney.

Watch out for: Deandra Dottin

Schedule: For the first time in three seasons, Giants will be playing in front of their home crowd in Vadodara's newly-inaugurated Kotambi stadium. In fact the season kicks off with the marquee clash of the hosts vs the defending champions on February 14. The Giants have two more home games, against UP Warriorz and Mumbai Indians, all within the first-five days of WPL 2025. They begin the long away leg then, with two games each in Bengaluru and Lucknow and the final one against hosts Mumbai Indians at the CCI on March 10.

No prediction game for champion trophy?