Reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru wrapped up their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 campaign on a high, securing an 11-run victory over inaugural champions Mumbai Indians in their final league match.
Although RCB fell drastically short of a playoff berth, their triumph prevented Mumbai from securing a direct spot in the final. Despite an inconsistent season, RCB showcased resilience in their last outing, ending on a winning note. Meanwhile, Mumbai will now have to take the longer route through the eliminator to keep their title hopes alive.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana was at the helm, answering the questions of the press, for one final time in the third season of the league.
The Challengers were off to a flier in the season with two sensational wins against the Giants and the Capitals. In the inaugural game, they rewrote history by chasing down the highest total ever in the history of the competition. In the second game, Smriti Mandhana led the charge to get her team over the line in a commanding run-case with 8 wickets in hand against Delhi Capitals.
But things went downhill for the team in Red-And-Gold thereon. M. Chinnaswamy stadium, a fortress of the team, witnessed 4 consecutive losses and hence the campaign got derailed. Acknowledging the entire season with a smile on the face and not being rather much rattled on a streak of losses, the opening batter said, “I think we were just having a joke post-match that we started the season on a high, ended it on a high, and somewhere in between, we just lost our way (laughs).
“I think that pretty much sums up our season. But, having lost a lot of players from last season after the auction, we definitely had a lot to think about between the auction and the season. But the way we started, I really thought we were in it. In Bangalore, a lot of things didn’t go our way. But I’m really proud of the way the team showed character. Losing a lot of close matches is not easy on a team, and I think we lost our first two or three matches by very small margins.
“But everyone was really positive, and even in the last match in Lucknow, we truly believed we had a chance. Everyone wanted to go out there and win, and as a captain, that’s something I’m really pleased about. You win some, you lose some in franchise cricket. Some days, things go your way, and you win it. But when they don’t, and the team still sticks together, that, for me, defines a team.”
On the contest between the Challengers and Mumbai Indians, the captain said that for them, it is a game of cricket and laughed. They played in Lucknow, Baroda, and Bangalore, and they feel that RCB fans are the most loyal, standing behind the team and supporting them regardless of performance, which is a great thing. She mentioned that one thing about MI and RCB is the passionate fanbase, which makes this a special rivalry. As players, they just want to win every game, not necessarily against a specific team, but what makes it special is the fans.
In 8 innings, Richa Ghosh has smacked 230 runs at a strike rate of 175.57, providing RCB with late flourishes in matches where the top order failed to contribute. Backing the power hitter’s ability to turn things around in immediate circumstances, the captain praised her as amazing to watch. She mentioned having seen her grow over the last three seasons in the WPL and with the Indian team, highlighting her ability to single-handedly change the game. With her at the crease, the dugout can sit peacefully, knowing that no target is too big for her.
Referring to her performance in their game against UP Warriorz, where they lost the chase of 225 runs by just 10, the captain called it incredible. While some batters focus on smaller targets, players like Richa simply see the ball and hit, relying on their power. Many talk about her power, but she has worked on much more, including cuts and reverse sweeps. The way she adapted in the match showcased the hard work she has put in over the last year. Her work ethic has been commendable, and the captain expressed happiness for her, stating that if she continues performing like this, it will be a great sign for Indian cricket.
On the positives for RCB in season three of the competition, the prolific Mandhana said, “There have definitely been a lot of positives—many Indian players stepping up at different times. In the first game, the way she came in after injury and almost won us the match was incredible. Then there’s Sneh Rana—she has had a tough year; a lot of things haven’t gone her way. But to come in as a replacement and contribute to every field—batting, bowling, fielding—was amazing to watch. The way she batted against UP Warriorz was also something special.
“A lot of youngsters as well—I mean, not many got their chances, but there’s a lot of quality. The first year in WPL is always a learning experience, and they will be much better next season. As a captain, I see a lot of potential in them.”
On being inquired about the turning point in the season, the skipper said, “The first two matches we played in Bangalore—those were the kind of matches we won last season. Sometimes, I really believe in cricketing gods. You can do everything right, and in the last two or three overs, things just don’t go your way. Last year, we won those moments.
“This year, in those first two matches in Bangalore, we couldn’t make those moments ours. That was the turning point for us. We were in the game right until the 38th over, it felt like our match, but in the last two or three overs, things slipped. That’s cricket. If we had won those, we could have been sitting at the top of the table.”
On what the team could have done better in the campaign, the 28-year-old acknowledged that there was extensive planning in place, with a fantastic support staff who knew exactly what they were doing. While the planning was solid, cricket often presents moments beyond a team’s control. No matter how much preparation is done, sometimes things simply do not go as expected.
Reflecting on the campaign, the stylish batter avoided placing blame on any single factor, emphasizing that the team wins and loses together. On behalf of the batting group, she admitted they could have contributed more, and the entire team could have done better. However, pinpointing one defining moment would be unfair. As captain, she felt the team had a tournament where they aimed to capitalise on key moments but fell short, something they would work on moving forward.
Comparing it to the previous season, she noted that even minor elements, such as winning tosses, had worked in their favour. In Bangalore, however, things did not seem to align in their favour, as she struggled to win tosses despite taking pride in that aspect of the game. She jokingly recalled how their teammates looked at her with disappointment after losses, attributing her luck to the toss.
Despite this, she acknowledged that some factors are within a team’s control while others are not. The cricketing aspect remained in control, and even after losing the toss in the first two matches, the team was still competitive. However, the group failed to seize key moments.
In the ongoing WPL season, Ellyse Perry had been the backbone of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batting lineup, single-handedly anchoring the defending champions. Amassing 372 runs across eight innings, she boasts an outstanding average of 93 and an impressive strike rate of 148.80. Her ability to maintain consistency while shifting gears effortlessly when needed has been instrumental in RCB’s campaign, solidifying her status as one of the standout performers in the league’s third edition.
Mandhana said, “People talk a lot about Ellyse Perry for what she does on the field, but what she does off the field is just as remarkable. Her work ethic is something that not many talk about. Whether she scores 80 or gets out on zero, she’s in the gym the next day working out for two to three hours. That’s Ellyse Perry.
“The way she batted this season was just amazing to watch. The clarity with which she approached her game, especially in Bangalore—losing the toss, and yet we were one of the few teams who managed to put up more than 160. That was only because of how she batted. Having her around the team is invaluable, especially for the young Indian players. There’s so much to learn from her, and I’m sure many in the team are watching her closely.”
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