In the very first match of the WPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru laid waste to Gujarat Giants with six wickets. Chasing a mammoth 202 runs, the visitors were on the mat, having lost two very quick wickets but stormed back into the game with a splendid knock from Ellyse Perry, scoring 57 runs from 34 balls, and blistering strokes by Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja. While the keeper-batter twisted the game with an unbeaten 64 runs off 27, Kanika made 30 off 13.
Because of that performance, RCB chased the highest total in the WPL. The combative captain of Gujarat Giants-Ash Gardner-who ripped apart 79* in 37 balls hogged two wickets in the second-over but saved her overs for Richa, which did not do well as India’s prodigy smashed her 22 runs in the 16th over, changing the game’s face.
It’s interesting because former coach of Gujarat Giants Mithali Raj said, “The dew must have played a part in leaking that many runs in the over since Gardner failed to find the right grip.” “In fact, Gardner made it so much easier for Richa, for whom time was really good, and it wasn’t the case with big shots attempted,” Raj expresses.
Raj said this while speaking at JioHotstar, It is true that Ashleigh Gardner probably saved her two overs for Richa Ghosh and Georgia Wareham. Yet, she could not get the right grip, or as is so often in her case, when she gets hit, the more dangerous she gets because of the attack.
“This is quite indeed convenient for Richa Ghosh to be able to navigate that field, particularly executing those delicate shots towards third man boundary. On a pitch-up ball, she uses her timing rather than trying to hit it hard into the scoring openings. As long as Richa Ghosh stayed, RCB had a chance. She has all the shots: well-timed cover drives and big hits,” she said.
