WPL 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women and Mumbai Indians Women have each won one title. Which team has a higher chance of lifting the trophy in 2025?
The Women’s Premier League 2025 has begun on a strong note, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) winning their first two matches. While it’s still early days in the tournament, they are already emerging as one of the strongest contenders for this year’s title. Let’s take a look at the top contenders.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
The defending champions appear to be carrying forward their winning momentum from last season. With two clinical victories in as many games, they are the team to beat this season. Several factors make them the strongest contenders to lift the crown and retain their title.
Batting: Core competency
The opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge has already made waves in the tournament, stitching together a 107-run stand against Delhi Capitals. Skipper Mandhana was at her lethal best, smashing 81 off 47 balls, while Wyatt-Hodge provided solid support with a 33-ball 42. If either of them fires, they set a perfect platform for the explosive middle order to capitalise on.
In the opener against Gujarat Giants, RCB’s openers fell cheaply, but the middle order launched a counter-attacking display to chase down a 202-run target with ease. Richa Ghosh’s unbeaten 64 off 27 balls made the chase look effortless, while Ellyse Perry’s composed 57 added stability. Kanika Ahuja’s quickfire 30* off 13 balls was another standout performance. Overall, RCB’s batting lineup is one to watch this season.
Well-rounded bowling unit
The bowling attack is spearheaded by the ever-reliable medium-pacer Renuka Singh, who was named Player of the Match against Delhi for her impressive spell of 3/23. She has a knack for picking up early wickets, putting the team in the driver’s seat.
Renuka is well-supported by overseas recruits, including Australian pacer Kim Garth, who took two wickets against Delhi, and fellow Aussie Georgia Wareham, who provides great utility with her leg-spin, also claiming three wickets in the same match.
Among the India bowlers, VJ Joshitha, Kanika Ahuja, and Prema Rawat form part of the attack and are gradually finding their rhythm. Meanwhile, all-rounder Ellyse Perry has yet to be called upon to bowl. Overall, RCB boasts a well-rounded bowling unit.
Winning mindset
Having broken the shackles of a title drought last year across both the men’s and women’s tournaments, RCB has started this season with a bang. They look like the best team in the competition. Having tasted success last year, the RCB women have their strategy, mindset, and focus all in the right place. Read More: WPL 2024: Five life lessons to learn from RCB Women’s triumph
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians were the winners of the inaugural WPL title. They were involved in a thriller in their opening game against Delhi, where they lost by 2 wickets on the last ball. Nevertheless, it’s still early days in the tournament, and one can trust Mumbai to bounce back and give a tough challenge to the other teams.
Balanced batting unit
Mumbai’s batting is led by veteran India player Harmanpreet Kaur. She played a brilliant knock of 42 from 22 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, against Delhi. However, her wicket saw Mumbai lose momentum, as they could only score 59 runs in the last 9.1 overs. Despite the setback, the biggest positive aspect of Mumbai’s batting was Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 80 not out, where she anchored the innings brilliantly even as wickets fell at the other end.
West Indies batter Hayley Matthews, who opened the batting against Delhi, was dismissed for a 2-ball duck. However, with over 100 T20I matches to her name, one can trust her to deliver big as the tournament progresses. Mumbai will also need their young players, such as Yastika Bhatia, Sajeevan Sajana, and Amanjot Kaur, to perform with the bat and complement the experienced players. The team also relies heavily on Kiwi all-rounder Amelia Kerr to make valuable contributions with both bat and ball.
India bowlers need to step up
Mumbai's bowling attack gave a good account of themselves when they almost defended 165 against Delhi, only to lose on the last ball of the match. South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail performed well, taking 1 for 18 in 4 overs. Kerr picked up 2 wickets for 21, while Matthews contributed with 2 wickets as well. Sciver-Brunt also took a wicket. However, India bowler Saika Ishaque had an off day.
Mumbai appear to be too reliant on their foreign all-rounders to make up for the overs and will need their India counterparts to step up and deliver. Overall, it’s a well-balanced mix of bowlers who can be counted on to deliver results.
Mumbai's all-round strength
Mumbai are a tough team to beat this season as they have quality all-rounders to win the match single-handedly on their day. Their fighting spirit was evident in the match against Delhi and they are expected to make it to the play-offs. Read More: WPL 2024: How RCB turned things around this season
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