No Sophie Devine? RCB's Probable Playing XI For WPL 2024 Final Vs Delhi Capitals
RCB stand on the verge of maiden WPL trophy in Delhi [X.com]
After a disastrous inaugural season of the Women's Premier League (WPL) last summer, the famed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been a resurgent side in the marquee Indian T20 league.
Led brilliantly by star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana, RCB have managed to resurrect their fortunes and reached the final of the WPL 2024.
After finishing third in the points table with four wins and as many losses during the league stage, the Bengaluru rivals peaked under pressure when they thwarted the more dominant Mumbai Indians (MI) side in the Eliminator clash held in Delhi on Friday (March 15).
Mandhana & company, however, are now in for their litmus test when they face off against numero uno Delhi Capitals (DC) in the high-octane final of the league's second edition at the historic Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.
Even though RCB have a pretty settled line-up and could think twice before tinkering with a playing XI that just defeated the powerful Mumbai franchise in a knock-out bout, they might still have to ponder over their batting line-up, which failed to give a strong account of itself and needs to up its game ahead of the final.
The bowlers may have achieved victory despite RCB posting just 135/6 in their first 20 overs. Still, the batting department would be aware it came five runs shy of facing heaps of scrutiny and criticism as the team required prominent Australian allrounder Ellyse Perry's standalone knock of 66 just to have something to bowl at.
Among those who struggled, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh for her painstaking and nearly match-losing knock of 14 off 19 deliveries might have even faced the axe if not for her overall strong performance in the competition, with 240 runs scored at a strike rate of 143.71.
RCB Probable Playing XI vs Delhi Capitals For WPL 2024 Final
Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Georgia Wareham, Disha Kasat, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Thakur Singh