Following a disappointing end, second from the underside, final season, Royal Challengers Bangalore, led by Smriti Mandhana, might be wanting to kick off the Ladies’s Premier League 2024 positively because it takes on UP Warriorz at its residence floor in Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
Mandhana, alongside the seasoned duo of Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry, might be decided to place her powerful 2023 marketing campaign behind her, the place she solely managed 149 runs in eight matches with a mean of 18.62.
ALSO READ | Smriti in assured area along with her cricket and management: RCB coach Luke Williams
Devine, who was RCB’s prime scorer with 266 runs, will workforce up with Mandhana for an efficient left-right opening mixture.
The highlight might be on native expertise Shubha Satheesh, who just lately debuted for the Indian Take a look at workforce, and Sabbhineni Meghana within the prime order. Whereas Meghana hasn’t performed any matches since her stint within the WPL final 12 months, Shubha, identified for her stable cricketing pictures, might play a stabilizing position within the line-up.
Perry may drop down from her normal place at No. 3 to strengthen the decrease order, supported by finishers Richa Ghosh and Disha Kasat. The bowling assault might be led by Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Thakur, and Kate Cross, with Shraddha Pokharkar stepping in as a substitute for the injured Kanika Ahuja.
Underneath the steering of latest coach Luke Willams, who has a profitable monitor document within the Ladies’s Large Bash League (WBBL) with Adelaide Strikers, RCB holds the benefit, particularly with the assist of the house crowd.
ALSO READ | Sajana smashes last-ball six as Mumbai Indians seals dramatic opener vs Delhi Capitals
On the opposite facet, UP Warriorz, led by Alyssa Healy, brings a robust cricketing acumen and an aggressive recreation plan. Healy’s management and batting expertise will increase the arrogance of the customer.
Warriorz have the selection of selecting between Tahlia McGrath, Danielle Wyatt and Chamari Athapaththu to pair up with Healy, relying on whether or not they embrace Grace Harris within the taking part in XI.
In the meantime, the Indian duo of Shweta Sehrawat and Kiran Navgire might be tasked with strengthening the middle-order.Â
Newcomer Vrinda Dinesh (Rs. 1.3 crore), identified for her highly effective hitting, will look to capitalise on the brief sq. boundaries and be versatile within the line-up.
On the bowling entrance, Sophie Ecclestone, the top-ranked T20I bowler, will lead Warriorz’ assault, alongside Deepti Sharma. How they fare on a pitch that historically favours tempo over spin might be attention-grabbing to look at.