The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are gearing up for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season with high hopes after their historic win in 2024. Their first championship was a huge moment for both the women’s team and the entire RCB franchise, which had been seeking a major trophy for years. Now, as the defending champions, RCB is ready to prove their dominance in women’s cricket once again.
Strengthening the Squad for WPL 2025
To prepare for the new season, RCB has bolstered their squad with a mix of seasoned players and emerging talents. They made a significant move by signing Uttarakhand’s spin-bowling all-rounder Prema Rawat for INR 1.2 crore, seeing her as a potential game-changer. They also added two promising Indian all-rounders, Joshitha VJ and Raghvi Bist, to enhance their versatility. Mumbai off-spinner Jagravi Pawar was brought in to strengthen their spin attack, especially on slow pitches.
Historic Trade and Key Replacement
RCB made history with the first-ever trade in WPL, acquiring England’s experienced opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge from UP Warriorz. Wyatt’s aggressive batting style is expected to boost RCB’s top order, especially during powerplay overs. After the auction, RCB also signed England off-spinner Charlie Dean as a replacement for the injured Sophie Molineux. Dean’s ability to control the middle overs and take crucial wickets will be vital for the team.
RCB’s Best Playing XI for WPL 2025
| Player | Role | Strengths | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | Captain, Opener | Elegant stroke play, exceptional timing, adaptability | Provides solid starts, leads from the front, ensures stability |
| Danni Wyatt | Opener | Power-hitting in the powerplay, versatility against pace and spin | Gives explosive starts, capitalizes on fielding restrictions |
| Sabbineni Meghana | Top-order Batter | Strong backfoot play, ability to counter spinners | Holds the innings together, builds crucial partnerships |
| Ellyse Perry | All-rounder | Unmatched composure, effective medium pace, world-class finishing | Strengthens both departments, controls middle overs, steps up in chases |
| Richa Ghosh | Wicketkeeper, Finisher | Hard-hitting ability, quick hands behind the stumps, clutch performances | Provides late-innings firepower, accelerates scoring, ensures stability |
| Kanika Ahuja | Batting All-rounder | Hard-hitting abilities, effective spin bowling, fearless approach | Adds balance, chips in with breakthroughs, provides depth |
| Kim Garth | Bowling All-rounder | Swing bowling, death-over precision, valuable lower-order contributions | Contains runs, provides breakthroughs, strengthens depth |
| Shreyanka Patil | Off-spin All-rounder | Variations in flight, effective in middle overs, ability to hit big shots | Provides crucial wickets, maintains economy, adds power to batting |
| Charlie Dean | Off-spinner | Smart variations, accuracy, ability to deceive batters | Keeps batters in check, creates pressure, takes key wickets |
| Asha Sobhana | Leg-spinner | Sharp turn, aggressive mindset, ability to trouble batters | Breaks partnerships, maintains pressure, provides a wicket-taking threat |
| Renuka Singh Thakur | Fast Bowler | Swing bowling, accuracy, ability to strike early | Dismantles top orders, delivers pinpoint yorkers, controls pace attack |
This lineup showcases a balanced team with a mix of experienced players and emerging talents, ready to defend their title in WPL 2025.