In match no. 7 of Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on the maiden title holders Mumbai Indians at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. RCB are currently the table toppers of the season with 2 out of 2 wins while Mumbai are seated at spot three with 2 points in the bag.
Ahead of the mouth-watering cash, bowling coach and mentor of the Mumbai Indians Jhulan Goswami answered the questions of the media press.
Bengaluru has been a destination which brings down the dew factor to a serious discussion. Teams prefer to chase down the target after winning the toss.
On the influence of dew factor on the match, Goswami said, “You cannot control the due factor. I think every team is going to face that thing, whoever bowls in the second innings. But what we can control is how we’re going to prepare and how we minimise those challenges and focus on the cricket field and try to get those wickets. And it’s not going to be easy for anyone.
“It’s going to be challenging for all the cricketers, all the bowlers, all the teams, and we have to face that and just go forward and give our best. And as a bowling coach, my job is to give them all those ideas. I make sure that we prepare properly and whatever is coming our way, you have to take those challenges and look forward.”
On coming back to play at Chinnaswamy, the coach said, “I think most of the girls have played in Bangalore, and they are pretty much aware of the situations. And it’s not just about the WPL, but the girls have also played bilateral series here. So, it’s pretty common that they know that it’s going to be a high scoring game, and the ball will come nicely on the bat.”
On backing her bowler Saika Ishaque, Goswami said that this happens with all cricketers, and it was obvious that she would face challenges. In the first season, things were pretty smooth, but in the second year, she faced some challenges. This year, from day one, other teams started preparing to counter her properly. However, these things happen with all bowlers in cricket, and she has also gone through similar situations.
Goswami emphasized the importance of going back to the basics, working on them, and ensuring that the team supports her. As Mumbai, they always stand by their players, making sure she is in a comfortable zone and improving in the necessary areas. It is not just her but the entire sports team and players backing Saika. Her absence from the second match was not because she was dropped, but due to the team trying new combinations and giving opportunities to others. At the same time, they continue to support their players, which is how Mumbai functions and moves forward.
On backing pacer Akshita Maheshwari, Goswami said that she is a quality bowler and a quality player. She has done reasonably well in domestic cricket, and while scouting, Goswami was very impressed with her ability to swing the ball. She has that natural ability to swing it effectively. Goswami also mentioned that working with her is enjoyable because she is young and raw, and there is also an opportunity to learn from her. Additionally, getting to know her on a personal level has been quite interesting. Overall, she is a quality cricketer.
Head coach of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Luke Williams was at the helm with his answers to the press.
“The last couple of months have obviously been challenging. Going into the auction and then going through that process with the retention and then to have quite a few changes since the auctions – something you don’t necessarily expect. So then it was bringing that team together and I think we managed to have a good couple of weeks together. Before the first game, we spent some time together, we were clear with the top of rollers that we wanted to play and so far, we played some decent cricket. So, it’s a good start.”
Williams stated that the team bowled much better and more consistently in their second game compared to the first. They took valuable lessons from their first match and adapted accordingly. He acknowledged the difficult bowling conditions, especially while bowling second, as well as the challenges faced when the ball came in. However, the bowling group focused on keeping things simple, sticking to their strengths, and finding ways to make an impact. Each bowler had a specific role and unique strengths, and the aim was to utilize them as effectively as possible.
He also pointed out that the games in the competition have been high-scoring, with moments where the opposition seemed to have the upper hand. The key, according to Williams, was maintaining composure, staying calm, and working through such situations. He found it particularly pleasing that in the last game against Delhi, despite the opposition being in a strong position during the Powerplay, the team managed to stick to their plans, which ultimately worked in their favor.
Williams said that playing in Bengaluru is a marginal advantage, as they had more matches in Bengaluru and played five home matches last year. Many of their players are familiar with the conditions, and they are hopeful of receiving incredible home support, which, while hard to quantify, certainly makes a difference.
He acknowledged that while the advantage may be smaller, there is still a lot of work to do to adapt. Even within the same venue, conditions can change, with a fresh wicket on one day and a used wicket on another, along with varying dimensions at different times. He emphasized that this is one of the challenges of the format they play, but also a great aspect that requires navigating tactics accordingly.
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