WPL 2025 Opener Preview: Defending champs face ‘Giants’ challenge in WPL curtain raiser
Gujarat Giants and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are all set to cross swords in the inaugural game of the much-awaited Women’s Premier League 2025 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Friday, February 14.
The Giants announced Ashleigh Gardner as their skipper for the upcoming season. The change in leadership came after two underwhelming seasons. In the last two editions, the side finished at the bottom of the table under Beth Mooney’s captaincy. They will be looking to forget the past and start fresh in the third edition.
On the other hand, the Bengaluru-based franchise had an incredible 2024 season as they finished third on the points table after winning four out of their eight games. In the Qualifiers, they defeated inaugural champions Mumbai Indians by five runs. In the grand finale, they took on Meg Lanning’s Delhi Capitals and raced themselves to victory after chasing down 114 runs, with eight wickets and three balls to spare.
Pitch Report
The Kotambi Stadium dishes a balanced surface that favours pacers, with an average innings score of 118. Historically, the teams winning the toss prefer to bat first at the venue. With matches scheduled daily for the first leg of this competition, pitch disintegration could become a concern. However, since this is the first game and a T20 match, conditions are expected to remain largely batter-friendly, though spinners may find some backing.
Squads
Gujarat Giants Women
Ashleigh Gardner, Harleen Deol, Prakashika Naik, Beth Mooney, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Bharti Fulmali, Laura Wolvaardt, Sayali Satchare, Danielle Gibson, Mannat Kashyap, Shabnam Shakil, Dayalan Hemalatha, Meghna Singh, Simran Shaikh, Deandra Dottin, Phoebe Litchfield, Tanuja Kanwer
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Asha Sobhana Joy, Joshitha Vj, Richa Ghosh, Danni Wyatt, Kanika Ahuja, Sabbineni Meghana, Ekta Bisht, Kate Cross, Shreyanka Patil, Ellyse Perry, Prema Rawat, Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Wareham, Raghvi Bist, Sophie Devine, Jagravi Pawar, Renuka Singh, Charlie Dean
