The much-anticipated third edition of the Women’s Premier League is set to begin on February 14, featuring a thrilling opening clash between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Giants (GG) at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, marking the first-ever WPL match at this venue.
The Challenges, fresh from their championship-winning campaign in 2024, will aim to build on their success, while the Giants, who endured a tough season last year with just two wins, have undergone major squad changes in hopes of a turnaround. As excitement builds for this high-octane encounter, let’s take a look at the Fantasy XI featuring top performers from both sides.
Fantasy Playing XI Picks:
Wicketkeepers:
Beth Mooney
Mooney has been in imperious form, recently winning the ICC Player of the Month for January after her stellar performances in the Ashes. The Australian batter accumulated 213 runs at a strike rate of 146.89, with her standout knock being an unbeaten 94 off 63 in Adelaide. With 3215 runs in T20Is for Australia, she remains a vital cog in Gujarat’s batting lineup. In WPL 2024, she scored 285 runs from 8 matches, including the best of 85*.
Richa Ghosh
Ghosh, the dynamic 21-year-old Indian wicketkeeper, brings firepower to RCB’s middle order. With 985 runs at a strike rate of 142.13 from 62 T20Is, she played a crucial role in RCB’s title-winning campaign last season, scoring 257 runs at a strike rate of 141.98. Recently, she stunned everyone by scoring 54 off just 21 balls, registering the joint-fastest T20I fifty for India.
Batters:
Smriti Mandhana
The Indian vice-captain has been in red-hot form in 2024, amassing 763 runs, including three consecutive fifties (54, 62, 77) in the recent T20I series against West Indies. With a total of 3761 runs in 148 T20Is, she remains a key asset for RCB. Her WPL 2024 campaign saw her tally 300 runs in 10 matches, with the best of 80.
Laura Wolvaardt
South African captain Laura Wolvaardt is a run machine, boasting 2035 T20I runs, with the career-best of 102. She has topped the charts in the past two T20 World Cups, scoring 223 runs in 2024 and 230 in 2023. In WPL, she has been consistently solid, scoring 167 runs in 6 innings in 2024 after managing 143 runs in 4 innings in 2023.
Phoebe Litchfield
Litchfield, the exciting Australian youngster, has already made an impact in global leagues. With 380 T20I runs from 19 innings and the best of 64*, she carries vast experience from 79 WBBL games (1554 runs), 17 matches at The Hundred (450 runs), and 8 WPL matches (108 runs).
All-rounders:
Ellyse Perry
Perry was a standout performer in WPL 2024, securing the Orange Cap with 347 runs at an astonishing average of 69.40. However, recent injury concerns have affected her form, as seen in her low scores of 2, 7 & 12 in the T20I leg of the Ashes. Nevertheless, with 2109 T20I runs, 126 wickets, and vast experience across WBBL, The Hundred, and WPL, she remains a game-changer.
Ashleigh Gardner
Gardner had an underwhelming WPL 2024, managing 120 runs and 7 wickets in 8 matches. However, with an overall T20I record of 1411 runs and 78 wickets, she continues to be a crucial player for Gujarat.
Deandra Dottin
Dottin makes a much-anticipated return to WPL after previously going unsold in 2024. One of the greatest T20 players in women’s cricket, she has amassed 3004 runs and 71 wickets in 138 T20Is. She showcased her all-round brilliance in the recent India series, scoring 52(28) & 25(17) while also picking up 4 wickets across three matches. She followed it up with a strong T20I series against Bangladesh, scoring 51, 49 & 10*.
Georgia Wareham
Wareham was one of RCB’s top performers in WPL 2024, striking at 163.23 while scoring 111 runs from 10 games. She also took 7 wickets and was the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes T20I leg, grabbing 6 wickets at an average of 9.50. With 69 wickets in 66 T20Is, she is a key player for Gujarat this season.
Heather Graham
Graham, a dynamic all-rounder for RCB, brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the squad. While she has played just 5 T20Is for Australia, where she has yet to get a chance with the bat, she has already made an impact with the ball, picking up 8 wickets with the best of 4/8. Her true prowess, however, has shone through in franchise cricket. Having featured in 138 WBBL matches, she has amassed 1560 runs, with the highest score of 55*, while also proving her effectiveness as a bowler with 141 wickets, including the best of 3/12. With her all-round capabilities, she will be a key asset for RCB in WPL 2025.
Bowler:
Renuka Singh Thakur
Thakur will lead RCB’s pace attack. Despite a quiet WPL 2024, she bounced back in India’s recent ODI series against West Indies, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets from 3 matches at an economy rate of 3.34. She will be crucial in the powerplay and death overs. She has played 54 T20Is and has picked up 58 prized scalps with the best of 5/15.
With a mix of established stars and emerging talents, both RCB and GG boast formidable squads. While the Challengers will look to start their title defense on a high note, the Giants will be eager to turn things around after their disappointing last season. With big names like Smriti Mandhana, Beth Mooney, and Ellyse Perry taking center stage, expect a blockbuster start to WPL 2025.
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