NEW DELHI: Table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru will aim to rebound from their first defeat of the season when they face struggling Mumbai Indians in a Women's Premier League clash in Vadodara on Monday.
RCB's unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday, falling to Delhi Capitals in a match that served as a stark reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in the crucial stages of the league.
Despite the loss, Bengaluru remain firmly atop the standings, having demonstrated depth and consistency across all departments. They will be eager to put the setback behind them as the playoffs approach.
WPL: Delhi Capitals outclass RCB with a dominant win, keep playoff hopes alive
Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, are in desperate need of a turnaround. The defending champions have lost three consecutive matches, stalling their campaign and jeopardising their hopes of a playoff berth.
A victory against the league leaders would not only halt their slide but also inject much-needed confidence into a side striving to find its rhythm.
MI's concern has largely been inconsistency, particularly in closing out key moments, while RCB will be eager to iron out the issues exposed in their previous outing.
With both teams carrying contrasting motivations -- one aiming to reassert dominance and the other fighting to stay alive -- the match promises to be a keenly-contested affair.
The Vadodara surface has offered assistance to bowlers in recent matches, making discipline and smart shot selection crucial. With the league entering a decisive phase, Monday's clash could have a significant bearing on the final standings.
For RCB, skipper Smriti Mandhana has led from the front with consistent runs at the top, while Nadine de Klerk has been the side's reliable all-round contributor.
RCB will expect more from their middle order, with Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav needing to convert starts into match-defining knocks, especially after the batting stumbled in their previous outing.
Mumbai Indians have relied heavily on Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has been their standout performer with both bat and ball, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur has played a few impactful cameos. Amelia Kerr has also chipped in with timely wickets, keeping MI competitive despite the losses.
That said, MI will need stronger contributions from their top order which has been changing with matches. The bowling unit, particularly in the death overs, will also be under scrutiny after failing to defend or restrict totals during the three-match losing streak.
Both teams will be hoping their key players step up as the league phase reaches a decisive stage.
In the last outing against each other, RCB had pipped MI by three wickets in the season-opening game at DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai.
The Squads:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (c), Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, D. Hemalatha, Sayali Satghare.
Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G. Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajana Sajeevan, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth.
Match starts at 7:30pm.
(With PTI Inputs)
