Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s woes continued in Match 12 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 as they suffered their third consecutive loss, this time at the hands of Gujarat Giants.
The Giants opted to bowl first and restricted RCB to 125/7, their joint-lowest total in WPL history. Deandra Dottin and Tanuja Kanwar were the top bowlers for Gujarat, claiming two wickets each. Kanika Ahuja top scored for RCB with 33 runs.
In response, Gujarat Giants lost two early wickets for 32, thanks to Renuka Singh’s disciplined bowling. However, captain Ashleigh Gardner took the charge, smashing a 31-ball-58 to lead the Giants’ chase. Phoebe Litchfield provided the finishing touches, guiding Gujarat to a comfortable six-wicket victory.
Highlights from the match:
Ashleigh Gardner – 58(31) & 1/22(4)
Ashleigh Gardner starred in Gujarat Giants’ dominant win over RCB, delivering a match-winning all-round performance. After playing a key role with the ball by dismissing Ellyse Perry for a duck, she turned the game around with a blistering 58 off just 31 balls that included 6 fours and 3 sixes. Gardner accelerated the chase with aggressive stroke play, smashing three consecutive fours and a six off Prema Rawat in the ninth over. She continued her onslaught, reaching her fifty in style with back-to-back sixes in the 16th over. Though Georgia Wareham eventually dismissed her, Gujarat was already on the brink of victory. Gardner won the Player of the Match for her all-round brilliance.
Tanuja Kanwar – 2/16(4)
Tanuja Kanwar was instrumental in Gujarat Giants’ bowling attack, delivering a tight spell of 2/16 in four overs. She struck early, dismissing Smriti Mandhana for just 10, as the RCB captain mistimed a lofted shot straight to Harleen Deol, leaving RCB struggling at 25/3 inside the powerplay. Later, she showcased her athleticism by sprinting back to take a brilliant running catch off her own bowling, removing Kanika Ahuja for 33. Kanwar’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding kept RCB in check, ensuring they never recovered from their early collapse.
Deandra Dottin – 2/31(4)
Deandra Dottin provided Gujarat Giants with a strong start and a late breakthrough, finishing with figures of 2/31 in her four overs. She struck in the very first over, trapping Danni Wyatt LBW with a well-placed yorker that was upheld on umpire’s call, giving Gujarat an early advantage at 6/1. Later, in the final over, she removed Kim Garth, who attempted a scoop but only managed to edge it to Beth Mooney behind the stumps.
Kanika Ahuja – 33(28)
Kanika Ahuja was the lone bright spot in RCB’s struggling batting lineup, top scoring with 33 off 28 balls. Walking in at 25/3, she built a crucial 48-run partnership with Raghvi Bisht to help RCB recover from early setbacks. Ahuja showed intent, striking the first six of the innings in the eighth over by stepping down the track. She followed it up with a well-timed four, giving the home crowd something to cheer about. Just as she looked set for a bigger knock, her aggressive approach led to her dismissal, mistiming a big hit down the ground, where Tanuja Kanwar completed an excellent running catch.
Renuka Singh – 2/24(4)
Renuka Singh provided RCB with a much-needed early breakthrough, wrapping up her four overs with figures of 2/24. She struck in the 5th over, dismissing Dayalan Hemalatha with a clever delivery wide of off stump, forcing a mistimed charge that led to a sharp stumping by Richa Ghosh. Renuka struck again soon after, removing Beth Mooney for 17 as the batter attempted a big shot but found Georgia Wareham at deep midwicket. Her disciplined bowling gave RCB hope, but Gujarat’s batters soon took control, making her efforts in vain.
