tvaibhaw001@gmail.com
Women’s Premier League (WPL) title holders Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are preparing to retain their crown in 2025 using a carefully considered retention to ensure continuity and stability. RCB looks to keep the investment happening and carry on the success of their 2024 season as they retain 14 core players while also re-signing six international stars. With captain Smriti Mandhana and a valuable all-rounder aboard, this solid core will take RCB into the new season with force and decisiveness.
RCB W Strategic Retention and the Path Ahead
RCB head coach Luke Williams said RCB’s retention strategy combines keeping high-performing players with allowing new talent to be added in the auction. With a purse of ₹3.25 crore and four slots to hand out, RCB is in the driving seat to bring in certain specific talents to bolster its squad further. It will need to strike a balance between stability and opportunity to stay competitive and maintain a winning culture.
RCB W Key Retained Players: A Closer Look
The backbone of RCB’s success lies in its core players, who have been retained for their impact on the field as well as their leadership qualities:
Smriti Mandhana: Mandhana is a powerful combination of skill and composure. She is also the team’s captain and opener. Throughout the year, she has been a regular run scorer and has a sound hand on the field, which has been crucial in establishing the tone of victory for RCB. However, her importance as an opener last season was well highlighted by her 300 runs in 10 innings.
Ellyse Perry: Not only did this world-class all-rounder score 347 runs last season, but she contributed a lot more than that. Despite huge shoes to fill, Perry doesn’t lack confidence when it comes to filling that role in the Indian T20 league. … Known for her calm presence and her abilities to adapt in high-pressure situations, Perry anchors RCB’s middle order and is a crucial stabilizer to the lineup.
Richa Ghosh: Ghosh is a much-needed aggressive middle-order spark with an aggressive batting style. Her ability to score quickly, especially in the death overs, is quite an important quality that RCB can use in any way they can. She also adds to the team as a wicketkeeper-batswoman.
Shreyanka Patil and Asha Shobana: If there’s been a theme to the new Indian bowlers this season, it’s their rising star wicket-taking. But while Patil grabbed 13 wickets and Shobana 12, there was no doubt they appeared to possess the grit to keep the opposition at bay and handle the pressure. However, RCB’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent has seen its development under the team’s wing.
Sophie Molineux: Molineux, an experienced left-arm spinner, played a big role in RCB’s success, taking 12 wickets last season. Her ability to choke runs and break partnerships gives RCB more options in the middle over and strengthens the squad’s bowling unit.
RCB W Overseas Stars On Hand Add Depth and Versatility
RCB has retained six overseas players to stay true to its motto of having an international presence in the team. RCB has retained not just Perry and Molineux but Georgia Wareham, Sophie Devine, Danielle Wyatt Hodge, and Kate Cross.
Wareham’s handy batting and fielding, Devine’s big striking, and Wyatt and Cross’s expertise in explosive batting and bowling pace all broaden and liven up the mix. An overseas contingent as experienced allows RCB to be versatile and flexible in its game plan.
RCB W Auction Strategy: Filling the Gaps
With ₹3.25 crore remaining in their purse and four slots to play with, RCB’s strategy during the auction is likely to be on filling the slots that will give them the additional boost in batting or bowling with specialist finishers or versatile all-rounders.
They may also want a second pacer to go with Renuka Singh as an additional choice to take the pressure off the bowlers during powerplay and death overs. Targeting these specific roles allows RCB to maintain balance in its squad and improve its chances of defending the title.
RCB W Future Outlook: Strengths and Team Spirit
RCB’s retention formula is a successful blend of experience and young talent, which will easily bear fruits in the near future. While Mandhana’s currently strong personal form is a great starting point, it will be their familiarity with each other’s playing styles and the strong team culture from players like Mandhana, coach Williams, and co. that will be the key to approaching the new season.
Shreyanka Patil’s and Asha Shobana’s retention from the young lot is evidence of RCB’s commitment to long-term growth and the development of a solid lineup of talent within the squad. Royal Challengers Bengaluru has a great winning spirit, team synergy, a focus on growing future stars, and a promise for an exciting season to come, embodied with the indomitable spirit of a Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
RCB has its core in place and is already off to a strong start in preparations for WPL 2025. With continuity amongst the team and the chance to introduce new players, the team looks promising. RCB fans will be thrilled to see back-to-back seasons of thrills, teamwork, and edge-of-the-seat cricket from Royal Challengers while they are defending the title.
Ishika Aggarwal
