Three outstanding regional players, Joshitha VJ, Prema Rawat, and Raghvi Bist, and overseas veteran Danni Wyatt-Hodge debuted for the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) opener against Gujarat Giants, who also had as many as 5 talents on debut.
These athletes have earned their places on the team by showcasing their exceptional skill in recent domestic tournaments. By adding Rawat, Joshitha, and Bist, RCB is demonstrating their dedication to combining veteran players with fresh faces in order to create a lineup that is both diverse and well-rounded.
Joshitha VJ
The 2024-25 domestic T20 season saw 18-year-old VJ Joshitha emerge as a remarkable all-around player. She combined aggression and finesse with the bat to play multiple game-winning knocks. With a strike rate of 175 and an average of 48, she collected 144 runs in the U19 T20 Trophy.
Her medium-paced bowling gave her team’s attack more depth, and she regularly produced breakthroughs at crucial times. She claimed eight vital wickets in the 2025 U19 World Cup for India. Joshitha is also a strategic asset for RCB because of her versatility, which balances the bowling and batting units.
Prema Rawat
In the domestic T20 scene, Prema Rawat has consistently delivered strong performances. She proved to be a dependable bowler in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy during the 2024 season, taking 7 wickets in 9 games at an average of 14.97 and economy of 4.63.
Rawat is a well-rounded cricket player who is prepared to make an impression on the WPL scene mainly for her excellent fielding abilities, which have also resulted in important run-outs and catches. She didn’t take long to impress, striking the wicket of veteran opener Beth Mooney, when she was well set batting on 56.
Raghvi Bist
Born on October 11, 2004, Raghvi Bist has risen quickly through the Indian women’s cricket ranks. Bist, right-handed hitter, plays domestic cricket for Uttarakhand. She featured in five games in the 2024 domestic T20 Senior Women’s Challenger Trophy, scoring 162 runs at a strike rate of 120.89 and an average of 40.50.
Her consistent performances across formats resulted in her selection for the national team, and on December 17, 2024, she played her first Twenty20 International match against the West Indies. With a combination of youth and experience, her addition in the RCB squad promises to be a game-changer in this WPL season.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge
The 33-year-old veteran English opening batter Danielle Wyatt-Hodge known for her aggressive stroke play and years of experience on the international stage has finally had her time under the lights in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Wyatt-Hodge’s journey to this moment was one of perseverance. Overlooked in the inaugural WPL auction, she was picked up by the UP Warriorz in the 2024 edition, only to warm the bench throughout the season. Ahead of the 3rd edition of the WPL, RCB recognized Wyatt-Hodge’s potential and traded her into their squad.
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