In 2023, a team packed with superstars couldn’t find their rhythm and ended up finishing fourth, sparking a thorough review that led to sweeping changes for 2024. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally ended their long wait for a title, in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, with a commanding victory over Delhi Capitals.
During the 2023 WPL auction, Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive buy, with RCB securing her for Rs 3.4 crore. Ellyse Perry and Renuka Singh followed, with RCB purchasing them for Rs 1.7 crore and Rs 1.5 crore, respectively, while New Zealand captain Sophie Devine was signed for Rs 50 lakhs. With such star signings, RCB were favorites, but things took a different turn. Mandhana could only score 149 runs in eight innings, averaging below 19 with a strike rate of 111.19, while Renuka managed just 1 wicket in 6 matches.
RCB snapped their five-game losing streak by defeating UP Warriorz in their first-ever WPL win. A heroic 99 off 36 balls from Devine against Gujarat Giants gave RCB a shot with a net run rate boost, but their hopes were short-lived as they were eliminated. However, they unearthed a future star in Shreyanka Patil.
In 2024, RCB made a strong comeback, going on to win the second WPL edition, defeating Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in the final. Throughout the season, key contributions came from senior players like Mandhana, Perry, Asha Sobhana, and Sophie Molineux, alongside impressive performances from youngsters like Shreyanka Patil and Richa Ghosh.
RCB retained their core for 2024 but brought in fresh faces like Kate Cross, Georgia Wareham, and Molineux. This proved to be a winning move as Molineux took 12 wickets from 10 matches, finishing third on the list of highest wicket-takers. Wareham, too, made a big impact, taking 7 wickets and scoring 111 runs at a strike rate of 163.24.
Among the core players, Mandhana, Perry, and Patil all shone at critical moments. Mandhana finished as the fourth-highest run scorer with 300 runs, Perry secured the orange cap with 347 runs, and Patil took the purple cap with 13 wickets in just 8 matches. Shobhna was right behind Patil with 12 wickets.
Richa Ghosh also stood out, scoring 257 runs at an average of 42.83 and a strike rate of 142. The wicketkeeper has been crucial as a finisher for both RCB and India, making her T20I debut in 2020. She has since featured in 55 T20Is, scoring 860 runs with a strike rate of 140.52. As the T20 World Cup approaches, her finishing role will be key.
Coach RX Muralidhar praised Ghosh, he stated, “Richa has got massive, massive skill. She is working on her power game as well. She has got the experience now, batting at the right slot. She is one of those girls who is always working on her skills and trying to get better. I think she is already the answer for the finisher’s role. Just imagine, another year and a half time, she will only get better.”
Despite few changes in personnel from the first edition, RCB’s approach transformed in 2024, bringing them success. Muralidhar praised Mandhana and head coach Luke Williams for leading the strategic shift. “Everything changed (in 2024). We sat together and discussed which are the areas we need to address. Massive credit to Smriti. She was the one who took charge and then coach Luke Williams. She took charge with Luke and then you saw the difference out there. Spin was one area (that we addressed). I think in women’s cricket, spin rules. That is something we identified and picked up players accordingly and they made a massive impact,” Muralidhar explained, noting that investing in spinners proved crucial.
Reflecting on working with legends like Mandhana, Perry, and Devine, Muralidhar called it a “humbling experience,” saying, “It was a humbling experience. To be in the same arena as some of the very big stars of cricket was very humbling, Secondly, I got to learn a lot from these champions. All of them were very interested in developing and bettering their skill and performance. In one of the matches, after scoring a match-winning performance, they used to ask, ‘coach, what’s your view?’ They were open to figure out new things. In that way, I have been lucky to be part of that kind of set-up.”
RCB’s triumph in the 2024 WPL marked a remarkable turnaround, driven by strategic changes and standout performances from both seasoned stars and emerging talents. Led by Mandhana and Perry, with crucial coaching insights, the team finally claimed their long-awaited title, cementing their place in WPL history.
(Quotes sourced from Crictracker)