RCBW vs DCW: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 is getting hot, and the season’s fourth game is shaping up to be an electrifying remake of last season’s final. On February 15, 2025, at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium, Delhi Capitals (DC) take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a contest that is in high demand from fans.
Both sides have had tough beginnings to the season but have won games, and it is now all set for what should be an exciting match.
A Replay of the 2024 RCBW vs DCW Final
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The game between DC and RCB is a replay of last year’s WPL final, which was a heartbreak for Delhi. After topping the points table in WPL 2024, DC were favorites to win their first title ever. They had a strong position with a 4-0 head-to-head record against RCB and also played the final at home. But RCB came back in stunning fashion, winning the championship in the last game.
This year, both teams have started off with a victory but have encountered their own struggles. RCB had a nail-biting win against Gujarat Giants (GG), chasing down the highest total ever, while DC won a dramatic last-ball match against Mumbai Indians (MI). Even in victories, both teams had to struggle to come on top, and pressure will be on both to perform well in this make-or-break encounter.
Team News and Likely Playing XI
While both sides are gearing up for the major match, there are some updates and changes in their squads. Delhi Capitals (DC) took an interesting approach in their inaugural match by having one foreigner less in the lineup, but if South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp is completely fit, she might replace Nikki Prasad in the lineup. But it appears highly unlikely that Jess Jonassen would get a spot in the XI at this stage.
Delhi Capitals (Probable XI)
1. Meg Lanning (Captain)
2. Shefali Verma
3. Jemima Rodrigues
4. Alice Capsey
5. Marizanne Kapp/Nikki Prasad
6. Annabel Sutherland
7. Sarah Bryce (Wicketkeeper)
8. Shikha Pandey
9. Radha Yadav
10. Arundhati Reddy
11. Minnu Mani
Meanwhile, RCB brought a change in their team following the exclusion of Shreyanka Patil from the tournament. Sneha Rana has been appointed as her replacement and may make her debut straight away in the playing XI in place of Prema Rawat.
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Royal Challengers Bangalore (Probable XI)
1. Smriti Mandhana (Captain)
2. Danny Wyatt-Hodge
3. Alice Perry
4. Raghavi Bist
5. Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
6. Kanika Ahuja
7. Georgia Wareham
8. Sneh Rana
9. Kim Garth
10. VJ Joshita
11. Renuka Singh
Key Players to Watch Out For
As the teams gear up for this exciting clash, several key players will be in the spotlight. **Meg Lanning**, Delhi captain, who has just retired from international cricket, will try to get back into rhythm after a poor show in the opening match. She was harassed by Shabnim Ismail’s pace in that match and got out on a clean bowled ball. Lanning and Shefali Verma’s initial wicket partnership has been a key reason for DC’s success in the last two seasons, and they will be looking to return to their best against RCB.
For RCB, attention will be on captain Smriti Mandhana, who has had some issues tackling off-spinners at the beginning of her innings. Mandhana was bowled in the last match after withstanding only two balls against Ashley Gardner, which implies that DC may attempt to take advantage of this vulnerability by utilizing their spinners, Alice Capsey and Minnu Mani, to establish early wickets.
Key Stats to Note
– Head-to-Head Record: Delhi Capitals have the head-to-head advantage with 4 victories to RCB’s 1.
– Top Run-Scorers in WPL History: Three of the top run-scorers in WPL history will feature in this match: Meg Lanning (691 runs), Alice Perry (657 runs), and Shefali Verma (601 runs).
– Six-Hitting Ability: Shefali Verma has been the six-hitting queen in the WPL, with the most number of sixes in the tournament at 35.
A Decisive Tie
This rematch between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals is not just a routine group-stage match. With the kind of rivalry between the two teams, particularly following last season’s final, both teams will be keen to show their strength and win again. With principal performers on each side eager to deliver under pressure, the match is sure to be a rollercoaster of action-packed moments.
Since both teams desire momentum for the rest of the tournament, the game could potentially prove to be the turning point for their respective WPL 2025 season performances.
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