WPL 2025 RCB vs GG Highlights | Richa Ghosh's Heroics Lead RCBW to a Thrilling Victory in Vadodara

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 got off to a spectacular start as Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) pulled off a record-breaking chase against Gujarat Giants Women (GGTW) at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara. In a high-scoring thriller, RCBW chased down 202 with six wickets in hand, thanks to a breathtaking performance by Richa Ghosh, who was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten 64 off 27 balls.

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Richa Ghosh does it in style for #RCB ????

This is also the highest successful run-chase in #TATAWPL history????

Scorecard???? https://t.co/jjI6oXJcBI #GGvRCB | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/9Ea3gJ6JP1

— Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 14, 2025

Gujarat Giants Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, 1st Match

Gujarat Giants Women: 201/5 (20 overs; B Mooney 56, A Gardner 79*; R Singh 2-25, G Wareham 1-50)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women: 202/4 (18.3 overs; R Ghosh 64*, E Perry 57; S Satghare 1-41, A Gardner 2-32)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women won by 6 wickets

Gujarat Giants Set a Formidable Target

After losing the toss and being put in to bat, Gujarat Giants Women posted an imposing total of 201/5 in their 20 overs. Beth Mooney led from the front, scoring a brilliant 56 off 42 balls, anchoring the innings alongside Ashleigh Gardner, who played a captain’s knock with an unbeaten 79 off 37 deliveries. Deandra Dottin added a crucial 25 off 13, propelling the Giants to a formidable total. However, despite their aggressive intent, Gujarat’s innings was plagued by moments of hesitation and missed opportunities.

RCBW’s bowlers had a mixed outing, with Renuka Singh being the pick of the attack, scalping two wickets for 25 runs in her four overs. Georgia Wareham and Kanika Ahuja also chipped in with a wicket each, though the Giants’ batters managed to dominate the middle overs.

RCBW’s Chase: A Tale of Resilience and Power-Hitting

Chasing a mammoth target, RCBW stumbled early as their captain, Smriti Mandhana, was dismissed for just 9 runs. Danielle Wyatt-Hodge followed soon after, falling for 4, leaving RCBW reeling at 14/2 within the first two overs. However, Ellyse Perry and Raghvi Bist steadied the innings with a composed partnership. Perry, who was dropped twice, capitalized on her chances and played a scintillating knock of 57 off 34 balls, keeping the chase alive.

The match-defining moment, however, came with the arrival of Richa Ghosh. Walking in at a crucial juncture, she took the game by storm with her fearless batting. Her 64-run blitz, which included seven boundaries and four towering sixes, turned the tide in RCBW’s favor. Partnering with Kanika Ahuja, who also played a stellar knock of 30 off 13 balls, the duo forged an unbeaten 93-run partnership, ensuring a historic win for Bengaluru.

Gujarat’s Fielding Woes and Costly Misses

Despite posting a massive total, Gujarat’s fielding errors proved costly. Dropped catches and missed run-out opportunities allowed Perry and Ghosh to capitalize and shift the momentum towards RCBW. Perry was dropped twice, once on 2 and again on 18, while Richa Ghosh was given a life early in her innings, a mistake that Gujarat would later regret. Overthrows and misfields added to their woes, giving Bengaluru crucial extra runs in a high-stakes game.

Gardner, who starred with the bat, also provided an early breakthrough with the ball, removing both Mandhana and Wyatt-Hodge. However, the other bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught from Perry, Ghosh, and Ahuja. Sayali Satghare was the pick of Gujarat’s bowlers, claiming one wicket for 41 runs in her four overs, while Deandra Dottin also chipped in with a crucial scalp.

A Historic Chase and Record-Breaking Stats

RCBW’s chase of 202 is now the highest successful run chase in WPL history, surpassing their own record of 191 against Gujarat Giants in 2024. The 93-run partnership between Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja is also the third-highest for RCB in WPL history, underlining their dominance in high-pressure chases.

Additionally, the match saw a total of 16 sixes, making it the second-most sixes hit in a single WPL match, trailing only behind the 19 sixes hit in an RCB vs DC clash in 2024.

Smriti Mandhana (RCBW Captain):

“We always believed we could chase this down. The way Richa batted, it was brilliant to watch. She’s been doing this in the nets, and to see her execute it in a match was special. We had a good auction, and our replacements stepped up. The dew played a factor, but we backed ourselves to chase.”

Ashleigh Gardner (GGTW Captain):

“It’s a tough loss. We knew 201 was a par score, but we let ourselves down in the field. Dropping crucial catches against batters like Perry and Ghosh will always hurt. We were in a strong position to win, but unfortunately, we let it slip. We need to be sharper with our fielding going forward.”

Richa Ghosh: The Star of the Night

Richa Ghosh’s match-winning innings will be remembered for its audacity and composure. Speaking after the game, the young wicketkeeper-batter said, “The plan was to stay calm and take the game deep. We believed in ourselves, and our preparation helped us handle these situations. My focus was just to see the ball and hit it.”

Her final flourish, a monstrous six off Deandra Dottin to seal the win, showcased her power and ability to handle pressure. The shot not only secured the win for RCBW but also stamped Ghosh’s authority as one of the most promising finishers in women’s cricket.

With this thrilling victory, RCBW has set the tone for the WPL 2025 season. Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, will need to regroup and address their fielding lapses if they are to bounce back stronger. The tournament has just begun, and if this game is any indication, fans are in for a rollercoaster ride of electrifying cricket in the days to come.