Royal Challengers Bangalore WPL 2024 workforce evaluation: Squad depth, gamers to be careful, fixtures

Following a lacklustre efficiency within the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) the place it completed second from the underside with two wins in eight matches, Royal Challengers Bangalore is eyeing a reversal of fortunes.

The outfit has proven has proven religion in its core by retaining 11 out of 18 gamers. Last season, hopes had been pinned on its excessive profile capped gamers, proper from India regulars like Smriti Mandhana, Renuka Thakur and seasoned worldwide stars like Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine and Heather Knight. However, the professionals both failed to fireplace or failed to fireplace persistently.

After letting go of the skilled pacer Megan Schutt, RCB went for Kate Cross on the base worth of 30 lakh. Cross is tasked with strengthening RCB’s quick bowling alongside Renuka and all-rounders Devine and Perry. The trans-tasman neighbours will even be key with the bat, with each recognized for his or her huge hitting skills and knack to soak strain in crunch conditions.

While RCB will miss the providers of Heather Knight, South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk and Australians Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux might show to be helpful in each departments.

The RCB batting pool has an thrilling mixture of Indians too. Keeper-batter Richa is a feisty presence within the decrease center order, with the power to complete video games with elan. Shubha Satheesh, who not too long ago made her India Test debut, is one other assured presence within the prime order with a variety of textbook cricketing photographs in her arsenal.

However, all eyes shall be on skipper Smriti’s kind after struggles to juggle captaincy and her batting final season. Giving her firm. Another participant to be careful for is 38-year-old Ekta Bisht. With 29 wickets from the not too long ago concluded Senior Women’s T20 and One-Day trophies within the home circuit, the left-arm spinner is an skilled campaigner with a lot to supply.

Under new coach Luke Williams, who took over Ben Sawyer, RCB will hope to vindicate the franchise’s status of flamboyance, particularly for the reason that facet will play earlier than its house crowd on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Sophie Devine

International participant to be careful for:

Sophie Devine was the silver lining in RCB’s meagre marketing campaign in WPL 2023. Her 266 runs got here at a rare strike fee of 172.22. A clear striker of the ball, Devine chips in along with her efficient bowling as properly.  

RCB has an excellent bunch of native expertise who’re itching to make an impression within the WPL, Shubha Satheesh being considered one of them.

Indian participant to be careful for:

Off spinner Shreyanka Patil was a standout performer for RCB displaying confidence in high-pressure conditions and adaptableness with the ball when going up in opposition to the most effective batters on the planet. While she didn’t get as a lot time within the center as would have been perfect with the bat, Shreyanka’s change hits and good putting fee shall be helpful for the facet in a batter-friendly venue just like the Chinnaswamy Stadium. She had an excellent 12 months with the nationwide facet too and can hope to make a case for her inclusion within the Indian workforce for the Women’s T20 World Cup later this 12 months with an excellent WPL outing.