Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 is set to be full of action with the participation of new talents in the field of cricket and the young cricketers will have to work hard to assert themselves. The audience will witness the thrilling spectacle that the third season is going to be when it commences on Friday. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the Smriti Mandhana-led defending champion, will play against Gujarat Giants, the team which is led by Ashleigh Gardner, in their first game."
RCB is looking forward to the season as it had won its first titles in the men's and women's league. But it would be an uphill task, given that its star players Sophie Devine, Sophie Molyneux, and Asha Shobana are injured and out of contention. Ellyse Perry and Shreyanka Patil too are on the path to recovery, so one has to wait and see the kind of form the team plays without their contribution.
"Some of our key players from last season are missing due to injuries. This is a tough challenge, but we must stay mentally strong," said RCB captain Smriti Mandhana.
A Window of Opportunity for the Next Stars
Like the Indian Premier League (IPL), WPL is a window of opportunity for the players to embark on the first journey to the dream of representing the Indian national team. Cricketers like Shreyanka Patil, Asha Shobana, and Saika Ishaque, the star players of RCB last season, were selected for the national side.
This year too, young cricketers like Kashvee Gautam and Simran Shaikh, two young fast-bowling all-rounders, are hoping to make their mark.
WPL 2025 Format: Five Teams, 22 Matches
The tournament will take place in the same way as the last season, with five teams playing a 22-match league stage:
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Gujarat Giants (GG)
- Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Mumbai Indians (MI)
- UP Warriorz (UPW)
All the teams play twice against each other in the league stage. The top team goes to the final, and the second and third teams battle for the second final position in the eliminator.
Team Analysis: Who's on Top?
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
RCB were fourth in WPL 2023 but won the championship in WPL 2024. Injured players in their team, they have a tough task in WPL 2025.
- Strengths: Smriti Mandhana's batting and captaincy.
- Concerns: Injured Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, and Asha Shobana.
- Key Players: Ellyse Perry (Orange Cap winner, 347 runs in 2024), pacer Joshitha, and leg-spinner Prema Rawat.
- New Addition: Wicketkeeper-batter Nazhat Parveen in the place of injured Asha Shobana.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Mumbai Indians, first-time WPL title holders, lost in the WPL 2024 playoffs and finished third. They are keen to lift the championship again.
- Strengths: Experienced captain Harmanpreet Kaur and all-rounder Amelia Kerr and Natalie Sciver.
- Key Players: Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews, and Pournika Sisodia in place of injured Pooja Vastrakar.
- Rising Star: Kamalini, sensation in the Under-19 World Cup, was bought for ₹1.90 crore.
Gujarat Giants (GG)
Having struggled in the lower rung of the ladder in the last two years, Gujarat is keen to break its record.
- Strengths: Ashleigh Gardner, Deandra Dottin, Beth Mooney, and Litchfield from overseas.
- Concerns: No quality domestic players.
- Key Players: Harleen Deol, Daniel Gibson (fast bowler), and Simran Shaikh (batter).
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi made the final twice but could not lift the title. This year, they are keen to make history.
- Strengths: Captain Meg Lanning, Marizanne Kapp, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Radha Yadav.
- Rising Star: Nikki Prasad, who had led India to the Under-19 T20 World Cup title.
UP Warriorz (UPW)
UPW has been consistent but has fared badly in close encounters.
- Strengths: Captain Deepti Sharma and all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu.
- Concerns: No good performance by support players.
- Key Players: Alana King and Grace Harris will be the key players.
Telugu States players in WPL 2025
Some Telugu states players will be featuring in this season:
- Meghana (RCB) – 249 runs in 13 matches.
- Arundhati Reddy (DC) – 10 wickets in 16 matches.
- Anjali Sharvani (UPW) – 6 wickets in 13 matches.
- Gauhar (UPW), Sricharani (DC), Shabnam (GG) – Yet to make good impression.
As WPL 2025 starts, fans eagerly look forward to an exciting season with edge-of-the-seat performances and new heroes. Will RCB hold on to its title, or will some new team win the trophy? The ride begins now!
