WPL wrap one: RCB make early statement

The first weekend of the Women’s Premier League season three has been battled out and it was defending champs Royal Challengers Bangalore that made a big statement as they got their title defence off to the perfect start.

The competition kicked off on Friday and only three games have been played, with RCB downing Gujarat Giants in the opener, Delhi Capitals got their campaign off to a winning start against Mumbai Indians, and Gujarat managed to bounce back in their second game with a win over UP Warriorz.

🤜🤛 Team work makes dream work and partnership wins you matches. 🙌

A glimpse of our two rollicking pairs who were the Giant slayers on Match Day 1. 🔥#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #SheIsBold #WPL2025 pic.twitter.com/yEN6Si6wk5

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 16, 2025

Here are some of the highlights of the opening round of fixtures and a look ahead for what could be to come over the rest of the tournament:

MATCH OF THE WEEKEND

It was tough to choose which was the best game, with RCB’s incredible chase in an entertaining high scoring match against Gujarat coming extremely close, but it had to be the Capitals thrilling win that went right down to the wire against Mumbai that takes the cake.

Batting first Mumbai were grateful for the efforts of Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, as they made sure they reached a total that was almost enough, but in the end being bowled out for 164 with five balls remaining in their innings proved costly.

Only three batters made double figures, Yastika Bhatia (11), Sciver-Brunt, who ended unbeaten on 80 off 59 balls (13x4) and Kaur, 42 off 22 (4x4; 3x6). Annebel Sutherland, 3/34, and Shikha Pandey, 2/14, were the pick of the bowlers.

The Capitals chase then got off to a flyer, as Shafali Verma, 43 off 18 (7x4; 2x6) got stuck into the powerplay helping 60 come off it. But some top bowling from Amelia Kerr, 2/21, Hayley Matthews, 2/32, and Shabnim Ismail, 1/18, stemmed the flow of runs and picked up crucial wickets.

It thus took 19-year-old Niki Prasad (35) on debut to get her side to the brink, but with two needed off the last two balls she was caught in the deep, leaving it to Arundhati Reddy and Radha Yadav to scramble a two off the last ball to earn a breathtaking win.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEKEND

A number of players stood out over the opening three games, with Gujarat captain Ash Gardner arguably the most impressive so far. Gardner struck an unbeaten 79 off 37 balls (3x4; 8x6) and picked up 2/33 in a losing cause against RCB.

But she was then the player of the match thanks to her 2/39 with the ball, and 52 off 32 (5x4; 3x6) with the bat against UP Warriorz, as she helped her side bounce back.

Other Gujarat players to have impressed include Beth Mooney, 56 against RCB, Harleen Deol (34no) and Deandra Dottin (33no) both against Warriorz with the bat. Along with Priya Mishra, 3/25, and Dottin, 2/34, with the ball against Warriorz.

Other players that have put in big performances with the bat include Richa Ghosh, 64no off 27 (7x4; 4x6), Ellyse Perry, 57 off 34 (6x4; 2x6) and Kanika Ahuja, 30no off 13 (4x4), all with the bat against Gujarat. Nat Sciver-Brunt, 80no off 59 (13x4) and Harmanpreet Kaur, 42 off 22 (4x4; 3x6) for Mumbai, and Shafali Verma, 43 off 18 (7x4; 2x6) and Sarah Bryce, 21 off 10 (2x4; 1x6) for the Capitals.

On the bowling front Shikha Pandey, 2/14 for the Capitals, Sophie Ecclestone, 2/16 for the Warriorz, and Shabnim Ismail, 1/18 for Mumbai, all impressed at going at under five runs an over in their full compliment of four overs. Priya Mishra, 3/25 for Gujarat, and Annebel Sutherland, 3/34 for the Capitals, have been the biggest single innings wicket takers so far.

BEST COMMENTS OF THE WEEKEND

19-year-old Indian talent Niki Prasad, who’s 35 on debut against Mumbai took the Capitals right to the brink and helped them win their opening match thriller, earning her the player of the match award:

"This is the first game for me in the WPL. I wanted to go out there and express myself and make sure DC won. I visualised before the match, knew what I had to do and got it done. The situation we were in, just singles would not have been enough.

"So I wanted to get calculative boundaries along with the singles. Looking at the big players and legends, I am excited and motivated to give my best."

Gujarat captain Ash Gardner who seemed a bit deflated after her team were unable to defend a total of 201 against RCB in the tournament opener:

“Pretty flattening to be honest. 200 was probably only a par score and we needed to bowl really well. It was not to be unfortunately. We dropped some chances, which hurt us in the end. There are always going to be positives in every game, but we were unfortunate not to come away with a win.

"It is okay to take the emotion out of what this game was. We had some players on debut who did really well and they can take some confidence out of it. We just need to keep attacking with both bat and ball, and the rest hopefully takes care of itself.”

REST OF THE TOURNAMENT

It will be interesting to see what the rest of the tournament will bring, but RCB who currently sit top of the log, will be very happy with their start.

Whether they can defend their title, or if Mumbai can clinch a second after winning in season one, or if their will be a new name etched on the trophy, remains to be seen. The Capitals, who finished as runners-up in the first two seasons will be particularly motivated to get over the line this time round.

On the players front stars from Australia, India, England and West Indies have already made their marks over the opening round. On the Aussie front Ash Gardner, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry and Annebel Sutherland have impressed, while players such as Meg Lanning, Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris will also be ones to watch as the tournament goes.

For India Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma and Priya Mishra have started well, while Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues will also be ones to watch.

Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone, for England, and Deandra Dottin (West Indies) have also enjoyed strong starts.

Other players like Amelia Kerr (allrounder, Mumbai, New Zealand), Hayley Matthews (allrounder, Mumbai, West Indies), Laura Wolvaardt (batter, Gujarat), Marizanne Kapp (allrounder, Capitals) and Shabnim Ismail (bowler, Mumbai), all South Africa, and Alice Capsey (allrounder, Capitals) and Danni Wyaatt-Hodge (batter, RCB), both England, will all also be players to keep an eye on.

On the first full week of WPL action the Capitals will be playing three games, RCB, Mumbai and the Warriorz twice and Gujarat once. The game between the Capitals and RCB at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Monday night has the makings of a possible classic.