A record-breaking run chase. A fearless display of power-hitting. A night that will be remembered for ages. The opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pull off the highest successful chase in tournament history, gunning down Gujarat Giants’ (GG) 202/5 with nine balls to spare.
At the heart of this historic feat was Richa Ghosh, whose unbeaten 64 off just 27 balls turned the match on its head. Coming in at a tricky moment when RCB needed 101 off 53, Ghosh capitalized on an early dropped catch and unleashed an onslaught. Her breathtaking takedown of Ashleigh Gardner in the 16th over, where she plundered 23 runs, completely shifted the momentum.
RCB’s star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who had earlier laid the foundation with a steady 57 off 34, was full of praise for the young wicketkeeper-batter.
“Richa, she does it with so much poise and calmness, which is pretty awesome to watch. And you just feel like you know every time the balls in her slot, she’s gonna put it over the rope, which she does more often than not.”
Kanika Ahuja, playing her first WPL match after missing last season due to injury, joined the party and her fearless 30* off just 13 deliveries provided the perfect support to Ghosh, as the duo stitched together an unbroken 93-run partnership off just 37 balls.
Perry acknowledged Ahuja’s impact on the game, emphasizing the significance of her comeback, “So great for Kanika as well. She missed last year with injury. So, for her to come back and make an immediate impact for the group was superb.”
RCB needed a strong start in their chase, but Smriti Mandhana (8) and debutant Danni Wyatt-Hodge (0) fell early, both dismissed in the same over by Gardner. Perry then took charge, anchoring the innings with a composed knock. She found the perfect balance between aggression and stability, keeping RCB in the hunt even as wickets fell around her.
Speaking about the chase, Perry acknowledged that conditions favored the team batting second but insisted that execution was key.
“It’s only going to be the first of quite a few chases that are going to be big this year. I do think we got the best of the conditions while batting second, but you’ve got to make the most of that, and we did that really well.”
Her dismissal in the 13th over left RCB needing 93 off 46 balls, a moment that could have derailed their chase. But Ghosh and Ahuja ensured there was no panic, with Ghosh racing to a half-century in just 23 balls. She fittingly finished the match in style, launching Deandra Dottin over the ropes to seal a remarkable six-wicket win.
Reflecting on the thrilling contest, Perry hinted at what’s to come in the tournament, “That was an amazing way to finish the game. I think there’s just going to be really entertaining cricket from every team in this comp (competition) and it’s just a pleasure to be a part of it.”
Gujarat Giants, led by Gardner, put up a formidable 201/5 after being asked to bat first. Opener Beth Mooney played a steady hand with 56 off 42, while Gardner stole the show with an explosive 79* off 37, equaling the WPL record for most sixes in an innings with eight. Dottin’s late flourish (25 off 13) ensured GG crossed the 200-run mark.
RCB’s bowlers had a tough time containing the Giants’ batting firepower, but Renuka Singh stood out with 2/25, including the key wicket of Laura Wolvaardt. Ahuja also chipped in with a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Hemalatha early.
However, fielding lapses proved costly for GG, especially the missed opportunity to send Ghosh back on her very first ball. That drop ultimately allowed RCB to stage a record-breaking comeback.
With this win, RCB has sent a strong statement to the rest of the league. Up next, they face Delhi Capitals on February 17, looking to extend their winning momentum. For Gujarat Giants, it’s back to the drawing board as they aim to bounce back from a heart-wrenching defeat.
(Quotes sourced from video posted on WPLT20 on Instagram)
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