Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s debut WPL night wasn’t flawless, but captain Smriti Mandhana was overjoyed to play in an exciting match. The current champions had to chase after their middle order, which was led by Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja, and Ellyse Perry, reached an incredible 202, the fourth-highest total in WPL history.
Smriti Mandhana commended her teammates for taking the initiative despite being out for nine in the second over.
Smriti Mandhana said after the game, “It was amazing to watch.” Since Ahuja and Ghosh have been doing this in the nets for the past week, I’m really happy that it clicked tonight. When the dew started to form, we knew we were always in the game. The way Richa and Pez (Perry) batted was amazing.
Before first dismissing Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Smriti Mandhana, Ashleigh Gardner gave the Gujarat Giants a fantastic start with an amazing 79 off 37 balls.
However, their effectiveness was severely impacted by their fielding errors, which included missed run-outs, overthrows, misfields, and lost catches. Ghosh (64* off 27) and Ahuja (30* off 13) later turned the course of the match after Perry provided the RCB a crucial 57 off 34.
Ghosh, who got off to a cautious and steady start with 15 off 12, attributed her poise under pressure to pre-tournament match simulations. She clarified, “The plan was to take some time and assess the pitch.” “I believed that Ahuja and I could work toward the goal in a positive way. Our practice sessions with head coach Luke Williams, sir, were really beneficial to us.
Kanika Ahuja was looking forward to the game after missing a year due to injuries. “I’m thrilled to be back.” “The rehabilitation and visualizations helped me mentally,” she said.
Mandhana supported her young lady squad in spite of the absence of key players, although she admitted that upgrades and lookouts were needed. We had to adapt because our top three wicket-takers from the previous season were no longer available. Although we need to work on our bowling and fielding, our substitutes did a fantastic job. When she said, “We’ll get back together before the next game,”
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