Smriti Mandhana Shocks Gujarat Giants with Bold Toss Decision in WPL 2025 Opener
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season starts with a big match. Defending champions RCB Women play against Gujarat Giants Women. The game will be held at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. In the tournament opener, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss. She chose to bowl first since dew was a key factor.
This match is a fresh start for the Gujarat Giants. They ended up at the bottom of the table in the last two seasons. Under the leadership of their new captain Ashleigh Gardner, they aim for a strong start. Meanwhile, RCB, led by Mandhana, will look to begin their title defense with a victory.
Toss Update: RCB Opt to Bowl First
Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Decision: Elected to bowl first
RCB-W vs GG-W: Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Playing XI:
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- Danielle Nicole Wyatt-Hodge
- Ellyse Perry
- Raghvi Bist
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Kanika Ahuja
- Georgia Wareham
- Kim Garth
- Prema Rawat
- VJ Joshitha
- Renuka Singh Thakur
Gujarat Giants Women Playing XI:
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Beth Mooney (wk)
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Ashleigh Gardner (c)
- Deandra Dottin
- Harleen Deol
- Simran Shaikh
- Kashvee Gautam
- Tanuja Kanwar
- Sayali Satghare
- Priya Mishra
Sayali Satghare will debut for Gujarat Giants. Meghana Singh will present her cap. Meanwhile, RCB introduces three debutants in Prema Rawat, VJ Joshitha, and Raghvi Bist.
RCB-W vs GG-W: Captains’ Reactions
Smriti Mandhana (RCB Women Captain):
“It is good to be back in Vadodara. We were here a month back, a great city. I thought it will be a home game for Gujarat, but looks like we have a lot of support today. We would like to field first.
I think it is a fresh wicket. Dew is a huge factor. We saw it in the last two sessions, better to bowl before the dew comes in. Looks like a good team. Preparations have gone well. Few forced changes but happy with the way team shapes up. We have a lot of changes. Perry, Wareham, Danni and Kim are the four overseas. Three Indians making their debut are Prema (Rawat), Joshitha (VJ) and Raghvi Bist.”
Ashleigh Gardner (Gujarat Giants Women Captain):
” We would also gonna have a bowl first. It’s been really nice, there is a lot of core group that has been throughout. Yeah there is always things to work on.We have a mixture of experienced as well as young players. We have 5 debutants today. The players are multi-talented and I am really excited.”
Both teams want to start strong. The WPL 2025 opener promises an intense battle. RCB defends its title against the Gujarat Giants. The Giants have a new strategy with Gardner at the helm.
