Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ended their torrid Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 with a comprehensive four-wicket loss to Mumbai Indians on March 21. RCB were considered as one of the strongest if not the strongest team on paper after the completion of the mega auction. However, RCB failed to live up to their potential despite serious firepower in their lineup. They lost five consecutive games and their chances of qualifying for eliminator were slim to none. After RCB’s loss to Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, skipper Smriti Mandhana feels that they have a great team despite the result.
“We have a great team. We have a balanced team. Won't say we don't have a great team because we haven't done well. We had some amazing players. The first four-five games didn't go our way,” Mandhana said in the post-match presentation.
The 26-year-old failed to fire with the bat and registered scores of 35, 23, 18, 4, 8, 0, 37, 24, in eight games respectively. The southpaw scored 149 runs from eight games at an average of 18.62. Her WPL best score of 37 came against Gujarat Giants in a winning cause as her opening partner Sophie Devine smashed a 36-ball 99.
“My personal form wasn't great. We didn't get great starts. Sometimes things don't go as you have planned. We will come back stronger next season,” the opener said.
RCB skipper looked at the positives as well. She praised uncapped all-rounders Shreyanka Patil and Kanika Ahuja. She praised leg-spinner Asha Shobana as well.
Against MI, Mandhana scored 24 runs from 25 deliveries including three fours and one six. She got off to a good start but lost her wicket to New Zealand's Amelia Kerr in the seventh over. In the inaugural WPL season, Mandhana has struggled to score against spinners and often lost her wicket. Her form was one of the reasons why RCB were not impressive in the powerplay overs.
Despite six losses from eight games, RCB finished fourth on the points table as they had a better net run rate than Gujarat Giants who had a couple of wins in the season as well.
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