The much-anticipated third edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicks off on February 14, featuring defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Gujarat Giants at 7:30 PM (IST) at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara.
This will mark the first-ever WPL match at this venue. While RCB had a triumphant campaign in the previous edition, clinching the title, Gujarat Giants endured a disappointing run, finishing at the bottom with just two wins.
Squads:
Gujarat Giants
Ashleigh Gardner (C), Harleen Deol, Prakashika Naik, Beth Mooney, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Sayali Satchare, Danielle Gibson, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Shakil, Dayalan Hemalatha, Meghna Singh, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Phoebe Litchfield, Tanuja Kanwer
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sabbineni Meghana, Smriti Mandhana (C), Nuzhat Parween, Charlie Dean, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham, Joshitha V J, Kanika Ahuja, Kim Garth, Prema Rawat, Raghvi Bist, Shreyanka Patil, Richa Ghosh, Ekta Bisht, Jagravi Pawar, Renuka Singh Thakur
Players to watch out:
Ashleigh Gardner
The 27-year-old all-rounder had an underwhelming WPL 2024 season, scoring just 120 runs (HS: 40) and picking up seven wickets (BB: 2/23) in eight appearances. However, with an impressive international record of 1411 runs (HS: 93) and 78 wickets (BB: 5/12) in 95 T20Is, she remains a key player for Gujarat Giants.
Simran Shaikh
After a forgettable WPL 2023 season with UP Warriorz, where she managed only 29 runs in nine matches (HS: 11), Simran bounced back in the domestic circuit. She amassed 176 runs in 11 matches in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, averaging 22 at a strike rate of 100.57. In the Senior Women’s T20 Challengers Trophy, she showcased her explosive side, scoring 81 runs at a strike rate of 202.50.
Smriti Mandhana
The Indian vice-captain has been in stellar form since 2024, scoring 763 runs, including a high score of 77. She had an impressive WPL 2024, accumulating 300 runs in 10 matches (HS: 80). Across 148 T20Is for India, she has scored 3761 runs, with her best being 87.
Raghvi Bist
A fearless middle-order batter, Raghvi played a crucial role in Uttarakhand’s strong domestic campaigns in 2023-24. In the latest T20 season, she scored 158 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 129.50, including five sixes. She made an instant impact in international cricket, scoring an unbeaten 31*(22) in just her second match.
Pitch:
The Kotambi Stadium dishes a balanced surface that favors pacers, with an average innings score of 118. Historically, teams winning the toss prefer to bat first.
Weather:
Vadodara is set to experience clear skies with temperatures ranging from a maximum of 33°C to a minimum of 18°C. Humidity will be at 46%, with winds blowing at 10 kph.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Beth Mooney, Smriti Mandhana, Ashleigh Gardner, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Raghvi Bist, Dayalan Hemalatha, Shreyanka Patil, Tanuja Kanwar, Deandra Dottin
Match details:
Date – February 14, 2025
Time – 7:30 PM IST
Venue – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
Broadcast – Live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar; Telecast on Star Sports Network.
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