
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have made a big change to their squad for the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. Australian spinner Sophie Molineux, who had been a key figure in RCB’s title-winning campaign in 2024, will not be participating in the upcoming season due to a knee injury. In her place, England’s Charlie Dean has been brought in to bolster RCB’s bowling attack.
Molineux’s Injury Woes

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Molineau is one of the left-arm spinners who has been carrying a persistent knee injury. This has kept her out of international action for several months. It has made her withdraw from WPL as well as key international commitments. She had notably not played in Australia’s Ashes series this year because of this very issue.
She must reportedly undergo surgery and is unlikely to be in the field again anytime soon, reports suggest. Though she did sustain a grave injury, she could play the whole WBBL season and, indeed, went on to be captain of the Melbourne Renegades when they went on to clinch the trophy, albeit in limited capacities since she did miss four of the 11 games.
The injury came to the forefront during the home ODI series that Australia played against India, shortly after the WBBL. Although she played in the second and third matches of the series, her performance was pretty subdued, picking just one wicket from 11 overs. Even more challenges waited for her because Molineau missed three ODIs from Australia’s New Zealand tour.
Surgery and Recovery Timeline
An Australian physiotherapist named Kate Beerworth was briefed in December of this year. Further details will be known, however, for how long a time period before Molineau would recover enough to get her back to compete, as announced only after her surgery. As it appears that return from the competition, cricket remains somewhat uncertain and can expect to spend some time absent from RCB.
Performance Impact of Injury on Molineau’s Contributions to RCB in 2024
Before the injury, Molineau was a crucial player for RCB in the 2024 WPL season. She played an important role for the team as she contributed immensely with the ball.
Throughout the 10 matches, she took 12 wickets at an average of 23.16, which made her one of the standout bowlers in the tournament. Her absence in the 2025 season leaves a void that will be filled by the experienced English spinner Charlie Dean in RCB’s squad.
Charlie Dean: The New Additions to RCB

Charlie Dean, who is a replacement for Molineau in the RCB squad, comes with a wealth of international experience under her belt. The 24-year-old is yet to make her WPL debut but has already established herself as a highly effective bowler for England in T20I cricket.
Dean has played 36 T20Is for England, taking an impressive 46 wickets at an average of 18.19. Her ability to take wickets consistently and in key moments makes her a valuable addition to RCB’s squad for the 2025 season.
Dean is currently in Australia, where she has been named to England’s Women’s Ashes squad. She hasn’t done much in the initial games of the series, though, taking just one wicket in the first two ODI matches. Nonetheless, her overall record in T20 cricket and experience at the international level make her a great replacement for Molineau in the WPL.
RCB’s Strategy for WPL 2025

Charlie Dean’s inclusion in RCB is part of the team’s strategy to strengthen their bowling ahead of the 2025 WPL season. With Molineau not being available, the team will look to Dean to provide stability and effectiveness with the ball. Her ability to bowl in both the powerplay and death overs will be crucial in helping RCB defend their title and make a strong push for another successful campaign.
Sophie Molineau is one of the major losses for RCB, as she has played exceptionally well for the team during the 2024 season. However, replacing her with Charlie Dean gives RCB a capable and experienced bowler who can fill in the gap. As the team aims to retain its WPL title in 2025, they will be looking forward to Dean’s experience and wicket-taking ability to fill the gap that Molineau’s absence will leave.
Both players have been instrumental in their respective teams’ success in recent seasons, and the change in personnel speaks to the adaptability of RCB as they continue their quest for further glory in the Women’s Premier League.
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