The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season for defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was full of hope, anticipation, and eventually, heartache. The reigning champions defeated the Delhi Capitals by eight wickets and chased down a record 201 against the Gujarat Giants to start the season with two decisive victories.
However, after four straight defeats, their momentum drastically shifted and eventually faced Elimination with a game still to be played. The players have treasured their journey together in spite of the disappointments, emphasising the great friendships, amazing fan support, and memorable moments throughout the season.
With defeats to Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, and UP Warriorz in a thrilling Super Over match, RCB’s fortunes plummeted after a promising start. They came within 12 runs of chasing a record 225 in their most recent match against UP Warriorz, which was a high-scoring contest.
Despite their aggressive strategy, RCB was unable to cross the finish line, despite Richa Ghosh’s heroic 69 off 33 balls keeping them in the hunt. RCB’s difficulties were made worse by captain Smriti Mandhana’s patchy play and early dismissals, which put pressure on the middle order at crucial times.
The RCB players are still united in spite of their elimination, as Dani Wyatt-Hodge believed that “It feels weird that we’re going to Mumbai knowing that we can’t make the eliminators or finals. I think it’s really important that we enjoy the next few days that we get together. We might never have the same group ever again.”
Despite the season’s disappointing conclusion, a number of young players stood out and had an influence. With their impressive performances, Kanika Ahuja, Richa Ghosh, and Raghvi Bist showed that RCB’s future is still bright.
Kanika Ahuja talked about her experience with RCB and her strong bond with the team, “I think the best part about RCB is they treat you as family. You win or lose; they’ll keep backing you.”
Three-season veteran pacer Renuka Singh emphasised the emotional feel of saying goodbye to this season, “We have been working for three years, and we will miss all of the bonding after this tournament.”
Throughout the competition, it has been clear that the team and its fans have a close emotional bond. The players are still focused on giving their supporters something to cheer about in their final match as RCB heads to Mumbai. The foundation of the RCB has been its supporters, who have supported the team through both wins and losses.
The players expressed gratitude for their steadfast support, with Dani Wyatt-Hodge saying, “We’ve had great fun the last few weeks, even though we’ve not played the cricket we wanted to. There are still some amazing memories we’ve created along the way. Win or lose, they’re always there with us. That’s why it’s an honor to play for such an amazing franchise.”
Making the most of their final game against Mumbai Indians is the main goal for RCB as they get ready to end their season. “I think we can make our fans proud in the last game,” said Wyatt-Hodge, determined to finish on a high.
Even though the season didn’t go as expected, RCB’s WPL 2025 adventure has been about more than just winning games. It has been about tenacity, friendship, and the constant backing of a franchise that never stops motivating both its players and its supporters.
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