RCB-W vs UP-W Match Preview- WPL 2024, Match 2

The WPL 2024 kickstarted on February 23 with Mumbai Indians women and Delhi Capitals women playing the campaign opener. The second match now will be between the RCB-W vs UP-W. This is the first game for both teams in the new campaign. 

Date and Venue

 The WPL 2024 match between the RCB-W and UP-W will be played at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on February 24. The match starts at 7.30 pm IST. The first 13 matches of the season will be played in Bengaluru. Delhi hosts the remaining games of the season including the Eliminator and the final on March 17. 

Team Analysis- RCB-W vs UP-W Match Preview- WPL 2024, Match 2

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women 

The side will be led by Smriti Mandhana who was the most expensive player of WPL 2023. The franchise finished fourth on the points table winning just two matches last season. This season they have another chance to start afresh and come back roaring. The franchise bought as many as seven players in the WPL auction adding some more overseas strength. 

Among the new players added were England pacer Kate Cross, Australian all-rounder Georgia Wareham, Indian spinner Ekta Bisht, Indian all-rounder Simran Bahadur and Australian left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux. Thus this time around they have strengthened their bowling around a few reputed Australian players. 

The core of the team revolves very much around the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Elysse Perry, Sophie Devine, and Shriyanka Patil, the players who performed for the team in the last season. Smriti Mandhana had a very tough season with the bat and the RCB women’s skipper would love to turn things around with the bat. She has plenty of leadership experience to fall back on and the addition of the new players will give the side hope

RCB Women Squad 

Smriti Mandhana (C), Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Nadine de Klerk, Indrani Roy, Shradda Pokharkar, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux

UP Warriorz Women 

The side will be led by Australian women’s team skipper Alyssa Healy. She is a very experienced player and played her part in taking the team to the qualifiers. Healy finished the season with 253 runs at an average of 31.62. 

She spoke very positively about the side after the WPC auction last year. The new players added were Dani Wyatt – 20 Lakhs, Vrinda Dinesh – 1.3 Cr, Saima Thakor – 10 Lakhs, and Poonam Khemnar – 10 Lakhs. Indian batter Vrinda Dinesh was one the most expensive players in this WPL. The strength of the UP Warriorz team is their spin trio Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and England spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Along with Healy, Tahila McGrath and Grace Harris are the key batters. 

UP Warriorz Women Squad 

Alyssa Healy, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris, Kiran Navgire, Lauren Bell, Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, S. Yashasri, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Tahlia Mcgrath, Dani Wyatt, Vrinda Dinesh, Saima Thakor, Poonam Khemnar, Gouher Sultana

Also Read: Rehan Ahmed’s India tour ends, spinner to return home due to personal reasons

Key Battles

Smriti Mandhana vs Deepti Sharma 

The key Indian players will have a go at each other very early in the tournament. Mandhaha has faced Deepti regularly at the nets of the Indian women’s cricket team practice sessions and will very well know of the strengths and weaknesses of each other. 

Alyssa Healy vs Ellyse Perry

A mouthwatering Australian battle is on the cards when Healy faces Perry. Both come from Australia and characteristically Healy always have something to say to the key players of the opposition. Perry will have to face the music of Healy when she comes out to bat as well. 

Key Players

 For RCB-W, skipper Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, and Elysse Perry will be the key players with the bat With the ball, the all-rounders, Georgia Wareham, Heather Knight, Simran Bahadur and Sophie Molineux will be the key players. 

For UP Warriorz, skipper Alyssa Healy will have to play a big role with the bat throughout the season. Alongside her, the other key players will be Deepti Sharma, Grace HarrisSophie Ecclestone, Tahlia Mcgrath, and Vrinda Dinesh. 

Weather and Pitch

The pitch at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru has been a batting-friendly wicket in T20Is. It will stay true to its nature throughout the 40 overs. Scores of 200-plus have been posted and chased down regularly in the IPL. This game too might be a high-scoring contest. 

Rain has been an issue in evening games in Bengaluru. However, on Saturday the weather conditions should be pleasant for cricket. The temperature will be around 25 degrees with clear skies. There is no prediction of rain. 

Conclusion

RCBW and UP-W are two good teams and the teams have grown even stronger after bagging quality players in the WPL 2024 auction. We should be in for a good match between two good sides with defining captains.

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