Royal Challengers Bengaluru may have ended on the losing side against Mumbai Indians, but the reaction from the RCB camp after their 15-run defeat reflected clarity, belief, and a strong sense of perspective. Chasing 200, RCB finished at 184/9, pushed deep into the contest by a sensational counterattack from Richa Ghosh, whose 90 off 50 balls was the standout effort of the night.
“We still fell 15 runs short,” was Richa’s immediate reaction after the game — a line that summed up both the disappointment and the standards she sets for herself. Despite playing one of the finest innings of the tournament, the wicketkeeper-batter was focused not on personal milestones but on the result.
“My game plan was simple, I wanted to win the match,” she said. “I was a bit slow at the start because the wickets kept falling, but then I thought if I want to win and change the game, I have to put pressure on them (MI).”
RCB’s chase had begun in difficult circumstances. Early wickets left them reeling, and at one stage they were 35/5 inside the powerplay, facing an almost impossible task against a disciplined MI attack. That was when Richa took ownership, first stabilising the innings and then launching a calculated assault that dragged RCB back into contention. Her knock included a series of fearless strokes against both pace and spin, briefly swinging momentum before MI held their nerve at the death.
From the management’s perspective, the defeat was viewed less as a setback and more as part of a larger process. Head coach Malolan Rangarajan emphasised that RCB’s objectives remain unchanged. “Our aims haven’t changed. We still are looking to finish top of the table. So that’s one win away,” he said. “But we’re also thinking about how we can get better in these conditions. If you see, we’ve gotten better, slightly better, getting a better understanding of how we can bat.”
Malo pointed to the contrast between RCB’s earlier matches and this contest as a sign of progress. “Today is a very good example of the first game we played and today is a very good example of there being a lot more time than what the batters think there is,” he explained, underlining the importance of composure in high chases. With that in mind, the focus now shifts quickly to preparation. “We’ll prep well over the next couple of days and see what it takes to beat UP and seal the top spot.”
Assistant and bowling coach Anya Shrubsole echoed that sentiment, stressing continuity over overreaction. “It’s as simple as that — you don’t need to rewrite everything. You don’t need to do anything differently,” she said. “Ultimately, we’ve lost two games of cricket. The message from me is: think about what we’ve done well, think about what we need to improve over the next couple of days. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does.”
From a number’s standpoint, RCB had their moments with the ball as well. Lauren Bell’s 2/21 helped keep MI in check early, but a historic 100* from Nat Sciver-Brunt and a 131-run partnership with Hayley Matthews (56 off 39) lifted Mumbai to 199/4, a total that proved just beyond reach.
While the loss denied RCB an immediate seal on a finals spot, their position remains strong. With one league game to go against UP Warriorz, the spot is firmly in their own hands. More importantly, performances like Richa Ghosh’s underline the character and mindset within the group: a team disappointed by defeat, but confident, composed, and very much focused on the bigger picture.
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