RCB Lucknow: With the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 nearing its final stages, UP Warriors have nothing but pride to play for. With their playoff hopes almost over, they would be looking to put up a strong performance to spoil Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) campaign in the match on Saturday.
This season has been a miss for the UP Warriors. While there have been some great individual performances, as a team they have not been able to do much. With just four points from seven matches, they are at the bottom of the table and their playoff chances are only on paper.
RCB’s Playoff Hopes Hanging by a Thread
It hasn’t been easy for RCB either. The defending champions started off strong but have struggled in recent matches, suffering four consecutive defeats. With four points from six matches, they still have a mathematical chance of making it to the playoffs, but another defeat could dash their hopes of victory.
Their last match – a heartbreaking defeat in the Super Over – will still sting, and Smriti Mandhana’s side will be desperate to bounce back and keep their season alive.
UP Warriorz’ Batting Struggles: No Stability at the Top
The biggest problem for UP Warriors has been their unstable batting order. Constant changes – especially at the top – have backfired, making it very difficult for the team to find rhythm.
- They have experimented with various overseas batsmen as openers, but the strategy did not work.
- Kiran Navgire has been a regular in the top three but his results too have been mixed.
- Grace Harris played a match-winning innings in one match, while Georgia Voll impressed with a brilliant innings against the Mumbai Indians team.
Despite some good moments, the middle order has disappointed. Be it chasing or setting targets, they have failed to get going, causing the team to suffer at crucial moments.
UP Warriors captain Deepti Sharma said, “We keep making mistakes in the middle order. The top and lower order have performed well, but the middle order needs to improve.” However, one positive for UP Warriors is that their highest score this season (180) came against RCB. They also beat RCB in the Super Over, which has boosted their confidence a lot.
RCB’s Inconsistent Form: A Season of Ups and Downs
- RCB started their WPL 2025 campaign with two consecutive wins in Vadodara, but things have gone downhill since then. They have not won a single match at home, and the team will be hoping that a change in venue will change fortunes. The biggest concern for RCB has been the inconsistency in their batting.
- Smriti Mandhana has struggled to find form, barring an 81-run knock against Delhi Capitals. Her troubles against spin have become a major concern.
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge was also inconsistent, scoring a total of 137 runs with just one half-century.
- Ellyse Perry has been the only international player to have scored 295 runs including four fifties. Her 60-run innings in the last match was one of the few highlights for RCB.
Bowling Woes: RCB’s Biggest Weakness
- RCB’s bowling attack has been equally unpredictable. In their last match, they tried seven different bowlers, but none could make a serious impact.
- Renuka Singh Thakur is leading the bowling attack with 10 wickets but she is struggling to maintain consistency.
- Georgia Wareham has taken nine wickets, but her line and length have not been reliable.
- Spinners Ekta Bisht and Kanika Ahuja also failed to control the middle overs, causing the team harm in close matches.
With both their batting and bowling units struggling, RCB will need a complete team effort to turn things around and keep their playoff dreams alive.
RCB Squads for the Match
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Smriti Mandhana (C), Kanika Ahuja, Ekta Bisht, Charlie Dean, Kim Garth, Richa Ghosh (WK), Heather Graham, VJ Joshua, Sabbhineni Meghana, Nuzhat Parween, Jagravi Pawar, Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist, Sneh Rana, Prema Rawat, Renuka Singh, Georgia Wadham, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
UP Warrior:
Deepti Sharma (C), Anjali Sarvani, Chamari Athapaththu, Uma Chetry, Sophie Ecclestone, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Arushi Goel, Kranti Goud, Grace Harris, Chinelle Henry, Poonam Khemnar, Alana King, Tahlia McGrath, Kiran Navgire, Shweta Sehrawat, Gouher Sultana, Saima Thakor, Vrinda Dinesh.
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