The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team, led by Smriti Mandhana, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. The match was a one-sided affair, with RCB’s bowlers and batsmen failing to make an impact. Gujarat Giants’ captain, Ashley Gardner, won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that proved to be a masterstroke. The RCB team was restricted to a paltry 125 runs, a total that the Gujarat Giants chased down with ease, thanks to a brilliant half-century from their captain.
Ashley Gardner Leads the Charge
The Gujarat Giants started their chase on a shaky note, losing Ben Muni and Dayalan Hemlata for 11 runs each. Harleen Deol, who came in at number three, could only manage 5 runs, leaving the team in a precarious position. However, Ashley Gardner and Foebe Lichfield steadied the ship with a brilliant partnership. Gardner was the star of the show, scoring 58 runs in 31 balls, including 6 fours and 3 sixes. Lichfield chipped in with 30 runs in 21 balls, remaining unbeaten until the end. Gardner’s outstanding performance earned her the Player of the Match award.
RCB’s Batting Woes
In contrast, RCB’s batting was a major letdown. Captain Smriti Mandhana failed to make an impact, getting out for just 10 runs. Alice Parry was dismissed without scoring, while Richa Ghosh managed only 9 runs. Raghavi Bisht and Kanika Ahuja tried to revive the innings, but their efforts were in vain. Kanika and Raghavi added 48 runs in 37 balls for the fourth wicket, with Kanika hitting a four and a six off leg-spinner Priya Mishra on consecutive balls. Raghavi Bisht scored 22 runs, while Kanika Ahuja contributed 33 runs. Georgia Bearehem chipped in with 20 runs, and Kim Garth scored 14 runs, helping the team cross the 100-run mark.
The Gujarat Giants’ bowlers were on top of their game, with Diandra Dotin and Tannuja Kanwar taking two wickets each. Ashley Gardner and Kashvi Gautam picked up one wicket each, as the RCB team struggled to get going. The massive defeat will be a wake-up call for the RCB team, which needs to regroup and come up with a better strategy to turn their fortunes around.