WPL 2023: Can Smriti Mandhana-led RCB bounce back to score their 1st win against DC?
On the other hand, with just one loss, Delhi Capitals is climbing ahead and is the team to beat.
New Delhi: Royal Challenger Bangalore has lost the first four games in the ongoing WPL 2023 and now the team has nothing to lose from here on. On the other hand, with just one loss, Delhi Capitals is climbing ahead and is the team to beat. The Smriti Mandhana-led RCB will look to score their first win today against Meg Lanning’s DC.
Can RCB beat DC to score their first win?
The teams will be facing each other for the second time in the tournament and the last time they met, DC posted 223 on board with Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning scoring 84 and 72 respectively and Tara Norris picked a five-wicket haul.
Currently, there is a question mark on RCB’s ace stars Smriti Mandhana, Renuka Thakur and Megan Schutt as they have not been able to deliver as expected. While Sophie Devine has been scoring in the powerplay and Ellyse Perry has shown her skills in the middle order, other batters have not really stood up. RCB would require Indian batters to deliver, especially, Richa Ghosh, who has international experience and has done well on these pitches in past.
Delhi has shown strong batting with the likes of Lanning, Shafali, Marizanne Kapp and Jemimah Rodrigues in the top four. Heather Knight is the highest wicket-taker for RCB, but the team would need Renuka and Schutt to pick wickets in the powerplay.
Players to look out for
- Smriti Mandhana: Everyone is aware of Mandhana’s class as India’s opening batter and with a bit of guidance in her captaincy and sorting things out, she can again be one of the best batters modern cricket has seen. She has 80 runs in four games, but one big score can change the course of the team for the next four games.
- Sophie Devine: Devine has scored 132 runs in four games, at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 145. If she plays for a little longer period, Sophie Devine can get RCB their first win.