The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) led by an impressive leader in Smriti Mandhana guided her side impressively in their championship run last season, leading from the front with the bat, emerging as the 2nd highest run-scorer with 300 runs at a strike rate of 133.92 and an impressive average of 30 in 10 innings, alongside Ellyse Perry (347 runs in 9 innings with the bat), she was also placed 4th in the list of tournament’s highest run-scorers.
Mandhana inspired her side as the bunch consistently delivered impressive performances game after game in the 2nd edition of the tournament. As a result, they ended their franchise’s 16-year-long wait for the silverware in franchise cricket by defeating the Delhi Capitals led by skipper Meg Lanning by 8 wickets in the final at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Smriti Mandhana and Co. managed to get their hands on the trophy, just in their 2nd attempt.
The Challengers from Bengaluru scripted one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of the sport. They finished in fourth position in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2023, to get back on their feet and bag their maiden WPL title in 2024 was the stuff of dreams, for the players as well as for the fans.
The Smriti Mandhana-led side entered the ongoing 3rd edition of the WPL as the defending champions for the first time as a franchise overall. They were hit by major roadblocks in the form of several injuries, and some other reasons with as many as five of their players getting ruled out Sophie Molineux, Sophie Devine, Kate Cross, and Asha Sobhana, while Shreyanka Patil was the latest addition to the list.
Charlie Dean, Heather Graham, Kim Garth, Nuzhat Parween, and Sneh Rana have joined the RCB squad as replacements for the rest of the ongoing 3rd edition of the WPL. The spin duo of Asha Sobhana and Shreyanka Patil were the heartbeat of Bengaluru’s bowling attack, especially in the previous edition of the tournament, which enabled the pair to establish themselves as one of the top two wicket-takers for the franchise so far in the history of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Asha Sobhana is currently placed 2nd on the list of the highest wicket-takers for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with 17 wickets at an impressive average of 19.23 and an economy of 7.60 in 15 innings across the first couple of editions of the tournament.
Her best performance with the ball for her side came on 24th February 2024 against the UP Warriorz when she returned with sensational match figures of 4-0-22-5 in her match-defining spell with the ball for her side in their home ground at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. She was also awarded the Player of the Match for her crafty spell with the ball for her side in the game.
Asha Sobhana didn’t recover in time from her knee injury and is probably still in her rehab process which could have been the potential reason why she was ruled out of the ongoing 3rd edition of the tournament.
Despite all the setbacks and the challenges, the defending champions played as one to kickstart their campaign on a high with a convincing 6-wicket win with 9 balls to spare against the home side Gujarat Giants led by their new skipper Ashleigh Gardner in the tournament opener of the 3rd edition of the tournament on 14th February 2025 (Friday) at the Kotambi Stadium, in Vadodara.
Asha Sobhana has sent a message of support to her teammates via her personal Instagram handle, with a caption that read, “Wherever I may be, It’s all about my team, my tribe. Go out there and defend that title, girls!” which she shared on her story ahead of the 2nd game of their campaign in the 3rd edition of the tournament, when they will be facing the Delhi Capitals led by skipper Meg Lanning in the 4th game of the tournament on 17th February 2025 (Monday) from 7:30 PM IST at the Kotambi Stadium, in Vadodara.
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