WPL 2025: Delhi Capitals to face RCB in crunch encounter
What's the story
The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 will see a thrilling rematch of last season's final as the Delhi Capitals take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The match will be played at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on February 17.
Despite their dominant show throughout the WPL 2024 and a strong head-to-head record against RCB, DC stumbled at the final hurdle for two seasons in a row.
Initial wins
Both teams kick off WPL 2025 with victories
Both DC and RCB have begun their WPL 2025 campaign on a winning note.
RCB won against Gujarat Giants in the tournament opener while DC pulled off a last-ball win against Mumbai Indians.
However, neither of the wins was convincing. RCB had to chase down 202 runs, needing 79 from the last six overs before Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja took them home.
Team news
Team updates and potential lineups for the match
DC are currently battling a sickness in their camp, which saw them fielding one overseas player less in their XI.
If Marizanne Kapp is available, she could replace Niki Prasad.
Meanwhile, RCB have roped in Sneh Rana as a replacement for Shreyanka Patil, who has been ruled out of the tournament.
Rana could replace Prema Rawat in the XI for this match.
Players spotlight
Key players to watch in the upcoming match
Meg Lanning, who recently retired from international cricket, will be a player to watch in DC's next game.
Despite a shaky start in DC's opening match, Lanning and Shafali Verma's opening stands have been crucial for DC's success in previous seasons.
On the other side, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana is another key player to watch out for.
Mandhana has struggled against offspin early on in her innings and it will be interesting to see how she approaches this challenge.
Match statistics
Head-to-head record and top performers in WPL
In terms of head-to-head record, DC lead 4-1 over RCB.
The top three run-scorers in the WPL- Lanning (691), Ellyse Perry (657), and Shafali (601)- will all be playing this match.
Shafali also holds the record for hitting most sixes in the WPL, having hit 35 to her name.
As per ESPNcricinfo, she hits a six every 10 balls on average, making the upcoming match all the more exciting.
Predicted XIs
Predicted playing XIs
RCB predicted XI: Smriti Mandhana (captain), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Sneh Rana, Kim Garth, VJ Joshitha, Renuka Singh.
DC predicted XI: Meg Lanning (captain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Alice Capsey, Marizanne Kapp/Niki Prasad, Annabel Sutherland, Sarah Bryce (wk), Shikha Pandey, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Minnu Mani.
Poll
