The new season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is here! The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB), will begin their title defence against Gujarat Giants Women (GG) in the WPL 2025 opener. The match will be played at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, on February 14, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. RCB, led by Smriti Mandhana, had a dominant campaign last year, finishing with an emphatic 8-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals Women (DC) in the final. On the other hand, the Gujarat Giants will look to bounce back after a mixed campaign in 2024, where they won only two of their last five games.
RCB vs GG Match Details: Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants
- Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women vs Gujarat Giants Women, 1st Match
- Date & Time: Friday, February 14, 2025, 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
- Live Streaming: JioHotsar
Kotambi Stadium Pitch Report & Weather Conditions for WPL 2025
Pitch Analysis:
- Pitch Type: Batting-friendly surface with assistance for pacers early on.
- Recent Trends: Balanced wicket but chasing teams tend to do well.
- Winning Strategy: All-rounders and power-hitters could make a difference.
| Factor | Analysis |
|---|---|
| New Ball Movement | Swing in first few overs |
| Batting Conditions | Good for strokeplay after powerplay |
| Bowler Assistance | Pacers enjoy bounce, spinners effective in middle overs |
| Ideal First-Innings Score | 160-170 |
Pace vs Spin in T20s (Venue Stats) (Imp Stat)
| Type | Matches | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pace | 6 | 466 | 450 | 19 | 5/13 | 23.68 | 5.79 | 24.5 |
| Spin | 6 | 455 | 400 | 22 | 3/6 | 18.18 | 5.27 | 20.6 |
RCB vs GG Probable Playing XI
Gujarat Giants Women (GG-W) Playing XI:
- Beth Mooney (WK)
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Harleen Deol
- Dayalan Hemalatha/Kashvee Gautam
- Phoebe Litchfield
- Ashleigh Gardner (C)
- Deandra Dottin
- BS Fulmali
- Simran Shaikh
- DR Gibson
- Meghna Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W) Playing XI:
- Smriti Mandhana (C)
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge
- Ellyse Perry
- S Meghana
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Raghvi Bist
- Shreyanka Patil/Prema Rawat
- Georgia Wareham
- Kim Garth
- Kanika Ahuja
- Renuka Singh
Key Players to Watch Out For
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women:
- Smriti Mandhana: Dominant opener, averaging 30.5 against GG-W.
- Ellyse Perry: World-class all-rounder, crucial with both bat and ball.
- Richa Ghosh: 32, 54, 26, 13*, 23*, 8*, 10, 59 – Her last 8 scores in white-ball cricket for India
- Renuka Thakur Singh: Deadly new-ball bowler with swing.
Gujarat Giants Women:
- Beth Mooney: Scored 50, 75, 44, 94, 106* in last five international matches.
- Laura Wolvaardt: WPL strike rate of 134.19.
- Ashleigh Gardner: Best spin-bowling all-rounder, consistent performer.
- Deandra Dottin: Hard-hitting batter, adds depth to the XI.
RCB vs GG Dream11 Fantasy Team Prediction: Dream11 Team Picks:
Wicketkeepers:
- Beth Mooney (C)
- Richa Ghosh
Batters:
- Smriti Mandhana (VC)
- Laura Wolvaardt
All-rounders:
- Ellyse Perry
- Georgia Wareham
- Ashleigh Gardner
- Deandra Dottin
Bowlers:
- Renuka Thakur Singh
- Shabnam Shakil
Captain & Vice-Captain Choices:
- Captain: Beth Mooney
- Vice-Captain: Smriti Mandhana
- Alternative Choices: Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner
RCB vs GG Match Prediction & Winning Tips
RCB-W look like the stronger team on paper, with a more balanced squad and several match-winners. However, Gujarat Giants have a powerful core with the trio of Mooney, Wolvaardt, and Gardner, making them formidable opponents.
Winning Prediction: RCB to win the match.
