WPL 2023, RCB-W vs MI-W: Match Preview, Prediction, Probable XI, Fantasy Tips
Harmanpreet was MI's star player [Twitter]
It's Harmanpreet Kaur vs Smriti Mandhana, it's the battle of two of the best Indian cricket has ever produced, it's Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Women on Monday.
Preview
A cracker of a contest awaits the cricket lovers as Mumbai and Bangalore, who have a historic rivalry in the Indian Premier League, renews it, but this time it's not about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, it's about Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana.
Both the teams started the tournament on a different note. While Mumbai Indians thrashed Gujarat Giants in a one-sided battle on Saturday, RCB came crashing down and received a hefty beating at the hands of Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma's Delhi Capitals.
The interesting part is that MI's current net run-rate is +7.150, which truly justifies the domination they had in the tournament opener against the Giants. A batting masterlcass by Harmanpreet Kaur, amply supported by Amelia Kerr and Hayley Matthews blew away Gujarat Giants.
The bowlers did the rest of the job as chasing a mammoth 208, Gujarat folded for 64.
On the other hand, everything went wrong for Smriti Mandhana and RCB in their opening fixture. Opting to bowl first, RCB failed to apply the pressure as Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning tore apart their attack and blasted 223, which proved to be a bit too much for the Bengaluru side.
Despite valiant fight from Mandhana, Heather Knight and Megan Schutt, the target was a difficult one to overhaul.
Match Details
Date and Time: March 6, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
Live Streaming/Telecast: Sports18, Jio Cinema
Pitch Report
As witnessed in the RCB-DC game on Sunday, the surface is a batting paradise and there is hardly anything for the bowlers. 386 runs were scored between the two teams and that shows how much batters enjoy batting here. Change off pace from the bowlers will be the key to take wickets.
Probable XI
RCB: Smriti Mandhana (c), Sophie Devine, Heather Knight, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kanika Ahuja, Asha Shobana, Preeti Bose, Megan Schutt, Renuka Thakur Singh
MI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Humaira Kazi, Issy Wong, Jintimani Kalita, Saika Ishaque
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Keeper: Richa Ghosh
Batters: Harmanpreet Kaur, Heather Knight, Smriti Mandhana
All-rounders: Nat Sciver, Amelia Kerr, Hayley Matthews
Bowlers: Pooja Vastrakar, Megan Schutt, Saika Ishaque, Isabelle Wong
Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
Vice-captain: Megan Schutt
Prediction
Mumbai Should cruise past RCB with what we have seen so far. RCB looked lacklustre in the opening fixture and don't have much time to re-group. MI are flying high and should be victorious here.
 "Anurag Dasgupta")
