Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face UP Warriorz at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, aiming to bounce back from their recent loss to Mumbai Indians. Despite a middle-order collapse, RCB remains top of the points table with one defeat in three matches. Conversely, UP Warriorz secured their first points with a strong win against Delhi Capitals, seeking to improve their batting in pivotal middle overs. Key players to watch include Smriti Mandhana, who excels at Chinnaswamy Stadium, and Kranti Goud, who recently achieved a four-wicket haul. Both teams are looking to build momentum as the tournament progresses.
Who’s playing
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm IST
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have several positives to draw from and will look to move past their recent defeat to Mumbai Indians, focusing instead on securing a win in their second home game of the season. The most notable issue from that match was the collapse of RCB’s middle order around Ellyse Perry. Despite only scoring 167, players like Kim Garth, Georgia Wareham, and Ekta Bisht managed to push the contest to the final over, indicating there’s no reason for alarm just yet. With a record of just one loss in three matches, RCB currently leads the points table.
In contrast, UP Warriorz recently bagged their first points with a convincing victory over Delhi Capitals, having struggled in their first two outings. They will aim for a strong start from their openers, with hopes that Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris can find their rhythm as they enter a critical phase of the tournament. The team has struggled during the middle overs, often slowing down or losing wickets in quick succession. After Chinelle Henry’s explosive knock in the last game, the bowlers also delivered, and they will be eager to maintain this momentum to climb the standings.
RCB are unlikely to make any changes.
RCB (likely): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bist, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Ekta Bisht, 9 Kim Garth, 10 VJ Joshitha, 11 Renuka Singh
Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad was swapped out for seamer Saima Thakor in the Warriorz’s opening match in Bengaluru. Given the conditions favoring pace bowlers, it’s likely that Thakor will remain in the lineup.
UP Warriorz (likely): 1 Kiran Navgire, 2 Vrinda Dinesh, 3 Deepti Sharma, 4 Tahlia McGrath, 5 Shweta Sehrawat, 6 Grace Harris, 7 Uma Chetry (wk), 8 Chinelle Henry, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Saima Thakor, 11 Kranti Goud
Players to watch: Smriti Mandhana and Kranti Goud
Smriti Mandhana has a strong affinity for the Chinnaswamy Stadium. In her last three ODIs played in Bengaluru against South Africa, she recorded two centuries and a score of 90. During five games at this venue last year, she accrued
219 runs at a strike rate of 154.22. Her highest score from last season, an impressive 80, was also notched up against Warriorz at this venue. In her last two outings, she scored 26 off 13 and 81 off 47. It’s safe to expect more spectacular performances from Mandhana.
Kranti Goud delivered an exceptional performance against Delhi Capitals last Saturday, taking four wickets. She utilized the pitch’s movement to dismiss Capitals’ top order and Jess Jonassen. After going wicketless in her first two matches, this stellar outing would have considerably boosted the young bowler’s confidence in her inaugural WPL season.
