The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season will get started with a head-to-head face-off between defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Giants (GG). The tournament is the third edition, and it has become increasingly popular over the years. Confident of making it a winning start to the WPL 2025 season, last year RCB won their first-ever title in franchise history. Meanwhile, under new captain Ashleigh Gardner, Gujarat Giants will be keen to make a strong protest.
This match will also be a key battle to watch out for between RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana and Gardner. Having been regularly dismissed by Gardner in international cricket, Mandhana has been the bowler who has been dismissed more times than any other bowler in both T20Is and ODIs. Gardner will be an integral part of her team’s campaign as Gujarat’s top wicket-taker and run-scorer. But Mandhana, though, is in glorious form coming into the tournament. Lately, she has scored 135 runs in an ODI match to go with a new record for India for the fastest century in that format. She also contributed half centuries in all three T20Is against the West Indies in December, assuring of being a key player for RCB.
Mandhana praised her leadership qualities and all-round game prior to the match with Gardner. “She has been an all-rounder in the women’s game, one of the best. She is also a strong and good batter to clear the ropes. Mandhana also felt that quality would show in the bat as well as her captaincy, as she looks like a fighter.”
Fans who don’t want to miss the highly awaited GG vs RCB season opener can watch the live telecast of the match on the Disney+ Hotstar or JioHotstar.
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