The ninth match of the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 promises to be an exciting clash as the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), take on the UP Warriorz at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on February 24 at 7:30 PM IST.
The home team, RCB, has played three matches so far, securing two wins, suffering their only defeat against the Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, the UP Warriorz have picked up momentum, registering their first victory of the season with a dominant win over the Delhi Capitals in their most recent outing.
Squads:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Smriti Mandhana (C), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sabbineni Meghana, Nuzhat Parween, Charlie Dean, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Heather Graham, Joshitha V J, Kanika Ahuja, Kim Garth, Prema Rawat, Raghvi Bist, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh, Ekta Bisht, Jagravi Pawar, Renuka Singh Thakur
UP Warriorz
Deepti Sharma (C), Uma Chetry (WK), Chinelle Henry, Poonam Khemnar, Kiran Navgire, Dinesh Vrinda, Chamari Athapaththu, Grace Harris, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Shweta Sehrawat, Anjali Sarvani, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Saima Thakor, Arushi Goel, Kranti Goud, Gouher Sultana
Players to watch out:
Ellyse Perry
The 2024 Orange Cap winner has continued her red-hot form this season, scoring 57, 7, and 81* in her first three matches, amassing 145 runs at an outstanding average of 72.50 and a blistering strike rate of 161.11. While a hip injury has prevented her from bowling, Perry remains a crucial player for RCB with the bat.
Richa Ghosh
The Indian wicketkeeper has been a game-changer for RCB with both bat and gloves. Her scores of 64*, 11*, and 28 have come at an explosive strike rate of 180.70, making her one of the most dangerous hitters in the shortest format.
Grace Harris
Despite modest performances with the bat so far (scores of 4, 12, and 2), Harris has been exceptional with the ball, claiming six wickets, including a stunning hat-trick against the Delhi Capitals, where she recorded match-winning figures of 4/15 (2.3 overs).
Kranti Goud
The 21-year-old pacer has shown tremendous potential, with standout figures of 4/25 in her latest outing. Her impressive scalps include big names like Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Jess Jonassen—a performance that will boost her confidence heading into this clash.
Pitch:
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is renowned for its batting-friendly surface, offering plenty of scoring opportunities for batters. As the match progresses, spinners may find some assistance. The average first-innings score here is 167, and teams winning the toss often choose to bowl first to capitalize on the dew factor in the second innings.
Weather:
Expect clear skies over Bengaluru, with daytime temperatures peaking at 31°C and dipping to around 18°C at night. Humidity levels will hover around 56%, with light winds blowing at 18 kph—ideal conditions for a thrilling contest.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Chinelle Henry, Sophie Ecclestone, Kim Garth, Renuka Singh Thakur
Match details:
Date – February 24, 2025
Time – 7:30 PM IST
Venue – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Broadcast – Live streaming on Jio Hotstar; Telecast on Star Sports Network
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