Resilient Smriti Mandhana Reflects After Challenging WPL Season

Smriti Mandhana's RCB had a tough WPL 2025, missing the knockouts. Despite injuries and poor form, Mandhana displayed wisdom and resilience. Richa Ghosh emerged as a standout, showcasing her explosive batting prowess. RCB struggled with home losses, and Mandhana emphasizes team strength over individual blame.

Smriti Mandhana faced a challenging Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025, both as a captain and a batter for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The team, which failed to make the knockout stage, finished second last, just ahead of UP Warriorz due to a better net run rate. Despite these setbacks, Mandhana displayed resilience and maturity in her final press conference, expressing a philosophical reflection on RCB's missed opportunities.

RCB's title defense started strong with two wins, but a five-match losing streak dashed their knockout hopes. Key injuries and poor home performance were contributing factors. Mandhana noted, "We started and ended the season on a high, but lost our way in the middle," highlighting their struggle at home where they failed to win any of their games, a stark contrast to previous successes.

The season, marked by close losses, saw RCB grapple with unfavorable conditions and toss outcomes. Mandhana, battling her form dip, commended Ellyse Perry's standout performances. Young talent Richa Ghosh, with her explosive batting, offered a bright spot in the campaign, showcasing her potential and work ethics—promising signs for Indian cricket.

(With inputs from agencies.)