WPL 2025 Match 1: Top 3 Performers Between RCB And GG

 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered a historic win over Gujarat Giants in the opening match of WPL 2025 played at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara on 14^th February.

RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and decided to field first. Ash Gardner’s explosive knock, Beth Mooney’s half-century, Deandra Dottin’s quickfire knock helped Gujarat Giants post 201 for 5 in their 20 overs. In reply, Ellyse Perry looked impressive with a half-century. Richa Ghosh played a blinder of a knock along with Kanika Ahuja’s brilliance helping the defending Champions RCB chase down this target easily by 6 wickets with 9 balls to spare.

The pitch at Vadodara was a belter with top-quality performances from both sides in the opening match of the season.

Here we look at the top 3 performers in the opening match of the WPL 2025 between RCB and Gujarat Giants.

1.      Ash Gardner

Gujarat Giants’ newly appointed captain Ash Gardner led from the front with the bat and ball also. She came to the crease after the fall of Dayalan Hemalatha’s wicket. Gardner and Mooney kept the scoreboard ticking with a 44-run partnership. She hammered the RCB bowlers, especially Prema Rawat hitting her 3 sixes changing the momentum of the innings.

Gardner launched an attack against Joshita smashing her for 3 sixes. She, along with Dottin put enough pressure on RCB bowlers, putting on 67 runs for the 4^th wicket. Gardner completed her fifty-off just 25 deliveries. It was a superb knock by Garnder remaining not out on 79 off 37 balls with 3 fours and 8 sixes helping Gujarat Giants post 201 for 5.

In the bowling front, Ash Gardner looked impressive picking 2 big wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Dani Wyatt in her first over. She was taken to the cleaners by Richa Ghosh in her 3^rd over giving 23 runs. Gardner ended with figures of 2 for 33 in 3 overs. Despite the captain’s all-round efforts, Gujarat Giants lost the match.

2.      Richa Ghosh

Richa Ghosh was at her best during the opening match of the season. Chasing a mammoth target of 202, RCB lost their 3^rd wicket with the scoreboard reading 100. She was given a reprieve by Simran Sheikh of her first ball.

The pressure was on RCB with the required run rate climbing. Richa Ghosh changed the momentum of the innings hitting big shots to keep the scoreboard ticking. Ghosh made batting look easy, smashing 23 runs against Gardner’s over before the 2^nd timeout. She completed her fifty off just 27 deliveries to make the chase easy. Ghosh finished off the job with a six helping RCB chase down a mammoth total. Ghosh remained not out on 64 of 27 deliveries including 7 four and 4 sixes. Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja added unbeaten 93 runs. For her brilliant knock, Richa Ghosh was named the player of the match award.

3.      Renuka Singh

Renuka Singh was the most economical bowler in yesterday’s match. She bowled disciplined lines and lengths in the first six overs not allowing Beth Mooney and Laura Woolvardt to hit boundaries.

Renuka struck the opening blow dismissing Woolvardt shattering the stumps. Mooney and Woolvardt added 35 runs for the opening wicket. She delivered goods for RCB getting rid of dangerous Deandra Dottin as Wyatt took a good catch at deep midwicket. Renuka Singh never allowed the Gujarat Giants batters to score runs easily.

It was a disciplined effort by Renuka Singh with figures of 2 for 25 in 4 overs. She conceded only 2 boundaries in her entire spell.

 

RCB beat GG in the opening match of WPL 2025