On Sunday, March 5, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Delhi Capitals (DC) will play in the first afternoon game of the Women’s Premier League (WPL)’s inaugural season.
Both organizations, which already have a successful team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will be eager to win the WPL as well.
After acquiring Smriti Mandhana, the most expensive player ever, and acquiring a few key players to build a well-rounded team for the first season, RCB held a historic WPL auction. Mandhana has already been revealed as the franchise captain.
DC, on the other hand, went about the WPL auction in a different way and didn’t get into too many bidding wars for big players. They were still able to acquire important players and put together a strong team that will be led by Meg Lanning, an excellent captain.
Fans and players alike can expect a riveting battle, with crucial matchups determining the outcome for both teams. In the highly anticipated contest, keep an eye out for these three-player battles.
#1 Smriti Mandhana vs Shikha Pandey
The most expensive acquisition at the inaugural WPL auction was the left-handed opening batter. She was widely predicted to be the most sought-after participant at the event, and in addition to her batting skills, RCB will make the most of her leadership skills.
She faces Shikha Pandey, who will undoubtedly be bowling for DC, in her first WPL match, which will be a tough test for her. In her matchup with Mandhana, the left-handed batter will be the target of the vicious outswinger from the right-arm pacer. The southpaw faces yet another challenge at the top from DC’s Marizanne Kapp.
#2 Megan Schutt vs Shafali Varma
Megan Schutt and Shafali Varma have a lot in common. In the opening match of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup, the young opener made one of her first impressions by defeating the Australian pacer for four consecutive fours.
However, Schutt, who completed 0-35 in that popular challenge where the Ladies dressed in Blue were defeated by 13 runs, sought her retribution in the last. She defeated Varma once more in the high-profile 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup, dismissing her for just two runs.
The two are scheduled to face off once more across each end of the pitch in a riveting battle on the WPL platform.
#3 Richa Ghosh vs Jess Jonassen
In-form finisher Richa Ghosh and cunning spinner Jess Jonassen could go head-to-head in the final over of the innings. Youth versus experience could provide either side with much-needed momentum.
During the most recent Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final, the Australian off-spinner demonstrated how potent she can be at the tail end of the innings. She also put on a strong performance in the tournament’s finals. Her propensity for taking wickets toward the end of the innings will compete with Richa Ghosh’s flair as the team’s designated finisher.
In addition, Meg Lanning’s matchup with Ellyse Perry, a member of the national team, is expected to be an intriguing contest in the upcoming WPL matchup.