Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stormed into the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 with back-to-back victories, showcasing their dominance early in the tournament. However, what started as a dream campaign has turned into a nightmare on home soil, with three consecutive losses at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. As the Bengaluru leg of the tournament nears its end, RCB finds itself in a tense mid-table battle, tied on four points with two other teams.
RCB’s opening game was a record-breaking run-fest, producing the highest aggregate total and the highest successful chase in WPL history. Set a daunting target of 202 by Gujarat Giants, RCB chased it down with remarkable ease in Vadodara. Renuka Singh stood out with the ball, returning impressive figures of 2/25. In the chase, Ellyse Perry’s composed 57 provided stability before Richa Ghosh stole the show. Dropped on the very first ball, Ghosh capitalized on the lifeline, racing to a half-century in just 23 balls.
Her unbeaten 64 off 26 deliveries turned the game in RCB’s favor, especially after her brutal assault on Gujarat Giants’ captain Ashleigh Gardner in a 23-run over. Left-hander Kanika Ahuja provided solid support, smashing 30* off just 13 balls as the duo forged an unbroken 93-run partnership off 37 balls, sealing a sensational opening victory.
Riding on that momentum, RCB took on a full-strength Delhi Capitals side and dominated once again. Despite missing key players Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, and Asha Sobhana—who played crucial roles in last year’s final against DC—the team found new heroes.
Renuka Singh (3/23), Ekta Bisht (2/35), and Georgia Wareham (3/25) combined to restrict DC to a below-par 141. In reply, skipper Smriti Mandhana led from the front with a commanding 81 off 47 balls, while Danni Wyatt-Hodge contributed a steady 42 off 33. The duo ensured a comfortable chase, making it two wins in two matches for the defending champions.
Just when it seemed like RCB was set for another dominant campaign, the tables turned. The first blow came at the hands of Mumbai Indians.
Despite a brilliant 81 off 43 balls from Ellyse Perry, RCB could only manage 167 for 7. MI came out all guns blazing in the powerplay, racing to 66 for 2. Harmanpreet Kaur’s composed 50 off 38 balls kept the chase on track before Georgia Wareham briefly revived RCB’s hopes with two wickets in the 18th over. However, Amanjot Kaur’s unbeaten 34 off 27 balls sealed the deal, with 16-year-old G Kamalini hitting the winning runs. Amanjot’s all-round brilliance, including her 3/22 with the ball, earned her the Player of the Match award.
If that loss was frustrating, what followed against UP Warriorz was downright heartbreaking. A thrilling contest ended in a tie as Perry’s unbeaten 90 off 56 balls and Wyatt-Hodge’s 57 set up RCB’s total of 180 for 6. In response, Warriorz also reached 180, thanks to Sophie Ecclestone’s (33 off 19) brutal hitting in the final over, which took 17 runs off Renuka Singh and forced a Super Over. Ecclestone wasn’t done yet—she then delivered a masterclass in the Super Over, restricting RCB to just four runs while defending eight, sealing a dramatic win for UP Warriorz.
The misery continued in the 12th match of the tournament when RCB posted a below-par 125 for 7 against Gujarat Giants. The modest target initially seemed like a tricky chase as GG lost both openers with just 32 runs on the board. However, an explosive ninth over from rookie Prema Rawat, which went for three fours and a six at the hands of Ashleigh Gardner, shifted the momentum completely. Gardner’s commanding 58 off 31 deliveries ensured that Gujarat strolled to victory by six wickets. This defeat left RCB winless at home in three attempts, adding pressure ahead of their final game in Bengaluru.
RCB now finds itself in a three-way tie on four points, alongside Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz. The fight for playoff spots is heating up, and the battle will intensify as the tournament moves to Lucknow and Mumbai.
Ellyse Perry has been the standout performer for RCB, amassing 235 runs, making her the second-highest run-scorer in the league behind Mumbai Indians’ Natalie Sciver-Brunt (254). Meanwhile, Renuka Singh and Georgia Wareham have been a force with the ball, leading the tournament’s wicket-taking charts with each having nine scalps from five matches.
As the Bengaluru leg nears its conclusion, RCB is desperate to end their home woes. Their final chance comes on March 1, when they face Delhi Capitals at 7:30 PM IST at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Loves all things female cricket
