Royal Challengers Bengaluru 146 for 2 (Mandhana 81, Wyatt-Hodge 42) beat Delhi Capitals 141 (Rodrigues 34, Renuka 3-23, Wareham 3-25) by eight wickets
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a commanding performance against a full-strength Delhi Capitals (DC) side, cruising to an eight-wicket victory in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. RCB’s bowlers set the tone by restricting DC to a modest 141, and their batters, led by the sensational Smriti Mandhana, chased down the target with ease. This victory marked the fourth consecutive win for the chasing team in the tournament, further solidifying RCB’s position at the top of the table.
Despite missing the trio of Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, and Asha Sobhana—key players in their title-winning campaign last year—RCB showcased their depth and versatility. Renuka Singh, Ekta Bisht, and Georgia Wareham stepped up brilliantly, combining to dismantle DC’s batting lineup. In response, Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge put on a masterclass, stitching together a century partnership to seal the win in style.
DC’s Innings: A Tale of Early Promise and Middle-Order Collapse
Rodrigues Leads the Charge in the Powerplay
DC’s innings got off to a rocky start when Renuka Singh struck in the very first over, dismissing Shafali Verma for a golden duck. Verma’s mistimed shot found its way to mid-off, handing RCB an early breakthrough. At the other end, Meg Lanning struggled to find her rhythm, much like she did in DC’s previous game against Shabnim Ismail.
It was Jemimah Rodrigues who took charge during the powerplay. After surviving a close review on zero and taking six balls to get off the mark, Rodrigues unleashed her attacking instincts. She lofted Ekta Bisht over the covers for a glorious six and followed it up with another maximum and two boundaries off VJ Joshitha in the sixth over. Rodrigues’ 22-ball 34, combined with a flurry of byes and extras, helped DC post a competitive 50-plus score in the powerplay.
Middle-Order Woes and RCB’s Bowling Dominance
However, DC’s momentum faltered after the powerplay. Georgia Wareham’s introduction in the seventh over proved pivotal. Rodrigues, attempting a reverse sweep, was stumped brilliantly by Richa Ghosh, ending her promising knock. The dismissal triggered a collapse, with Lanning falling in the next over after miscuing a Kim Garth delivery to Ellyse Perry at deep-backward square leg.
Annabel Sutherland briefly threatened to revive DC’s innings with a towering six off Bisht, but her aggressive approach led to her downfall as she holed out to cover in Renuka’s second spell. Jess Jonassen followed suit, miscuing Bisht to midwicket, and DC slipped from 60 for 1 to 87 for 5 in a matter of overs.
Despite a couple of reprieves—Marizanne Kapp was dropped by Kanika Ahuja, and a mix-up between Kapp and Sarah Bryce went unpunished—DC failed to capitalize. Kapp eventually fell to Bisht for 23, and Bryce’s useful cameo of 23 off 19 took DC past 125. However, Wareham struck twice in the 18th over, and Garth wrapped up the innings in the final over, finishing with figures of 2 for 19. Renuka (3 for 23) and Wareham (3 for 25) were the standout performers, ensuring DC were bowled out for 141.
RCB’s Chase: Mandhana and Wyatt-Hodge Steal the Show
A Flawless Opening Partnership
Chasing 142, RCB’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, put on a batting clinic. Despite the return of DC’s key bowlers, Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen, RCB’s top order faced little resistance. Mandhana set the tone early, capitalizing on Kapp’s wayward lines in the first over. She also overcame her struggles against off-spinners by sweeping Minnu Mani for two boundaries in the third over.
Wyatt-Hodge, on the other hand, was equally dominant, peppering the off-side with precision. She struck four boundaries in the powerplay, all square of the wicket, as RCB raced to 57 for 0 in the first six overs. The asking rate dropped to just over six an over, and the duo continued to pile on the runs with ease.
Mandhana’s Masterclass
Mandhana brought up her fastest WPL half-century off just 27 balls, showcasing her class and timing. She dispatched Kapp for a six over midwicket and took Jonassen to the cleaners, scoring 27 runs off 14 balls against the left-arm spinner. Wyatt-Hodge, meanwhile, played the perfect foil, contributing a brisk 42 off 33 before falling in the 11th over.
By the time both openers were dismissed, RCB needed just 35 runs off 55 balls. Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh ensured there were no hiccups, guiding RCB to a comfortable eight-wicket win in the 17th over.
Key Performances
Smriti Mandhana: 81 off 53 balls (10 fours, 1 six)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge: 42 off 33 balls (7 fours)
Renuka Singh: 3 for 23 in 4 overs
Georgia Wareham: 3 for 25 in 4 overs
Conclusion
RCB’s comprehensive victory highlighted their all-round strength and depth. While the bowlers set the stage with a disciplined performance, Mandhana and Wyatt-Hodge’s partnership underscored their batting firepower. With this win, RCB not only avenged their loss to DC in last year’s final but also sent a strong message to their rivals.
For Delhi Capitals, the defeat exposed vulnerabilities in their middle order and bowling attack. Despite Rodrigues’ early fireworks, they failed to build a substantial total, and their bowlers struggled to contain RCB’s in-form batters.
As the WPL 2025 season progresses, RCB’s dominant form makes them the team to beat, while DC will need to regroup quickly to stay in contention. With Mandhana in sublime touch and the bowlers firing on all cylinders, RCB’s quest for back-to-back titles looks firmly on track.
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