'If you commend UP Warriorz for scoring runs, you must also credit RCB for the fight' - Anjum Chopra on WPL 2025 thriller

UP Warriorz and Royal Challengers Bengaluru played a thrilling clash in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday, March 8. The Deepti Sharma-led side set a mammoth target of 226 after being invited to bat first. In reply, Bengaluru fought hard but eventually fell short by 12 runs.

Richa Ghosh played a blinder of an innings, slamming 69 off 33 balls to keep Bengaluru in the run-chase. Sneh Rana played an awe-inspiring cameo at the backend of the innings, contributing 26 off eight balls to give hopes of an unlikely win for Bengaluru. However, she was caught at deep mid-wicket while trying to hit Deepti Sharma for a fourth six in the penultimate over.

Former India skipper Anjum Chopra lauded the effort put in by Bengaluru's batting department as they almost recorded the highest run-chase in WPL history.

"Every time an RCB batter walked in and scored runs, Deepti Sharma and her team must have been thinking, ‘One more, one more, we have to pick ourselves up again and make sure we take a wicket.’ That was the kind of contest RCB put up, and all credit to them. If you commend UP Warriorz for putting those runs on the board, you must credit RCB for their fight as well. But yes, that catch of Sneh Rana was crucial," Chopra said on JioHotstar.

Chopra felt that things could have been different if the lofted hit from Rana had cleared the ropes instead of settling into the hands of the fielder.

"I don’t think anyone expected Sneh Rana to come out and follow in Richa Ghosh’s footsteps, hitting the ball out of the ground—not once but three times. If that last shot had cleared the boundary for a six, the equation would have changed completely. It could have been anybody’s game from there, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen," she added.

Richa Ghosh played a well-paced, calculated knock—patient yet powerful: Stacy-Ann King

Meanwhile, former West Indies cricketer Stacy-Ann King admitted that she didn't feel the match would go down to the wire like it did after Richa's dismissal. The 41-year-old opined that Rana's knowledge of what Deepti brings to the table and the ability to clear the long boundaries worked in the all-rounder's favour.

"It was completely unexpected. We all thought the match would play out a certain way after Richa Ghosh got out. But what an innings from Sneh Rana—26 runs off just six deliveries. It was truly impressive to see her take on Deepti Sharma’s bowling. Perhaps her familiarity with Deepti’s variations made it easier for her to anticipate deliveries. That predictability, combined with her decision to target the long boundaries, made her innings even more special," Stacy-Ann King said.

Richa bludgeoned six fours and five sixes during her epic knock. King praised the wicketkeeper-batter's composure and shot-making during her phenomenal innings.

"The stage was perfectly set for this kind of innings from her. She played a well-paced, calculated knock—patient yet powerful. I really liked how she built her innings until she got out. There were moments where you could see her literally centering herself, taking deep breaths, and reminding herself to stay in control. She was aware of her shot selection, knowing when to find a single and when to go for a boundary. The match situation was tailor-made for her to steer RCB to victory," King said about Richa's sparkling knock.

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Smriti Mandhana's abysmal form in the tournament continued as she was dismissed for four on Sunday. She was dismissed off a short delivery which she would have easily dispatched to the boundary had she been in form. King gave her take on the Bengaluru skipper's struggles in the season.

"It was unfortunate that she couldn’t get going tonight, but her opening partnership with Meghana had promise. Meghana took on the aggressor’s role, possibly thinking it was her time to make an impact. That short delivery Mandhana played could have been placed anywhere—it should have cleared the fielder for a boundary. Unfortunately, this has been the story of her season so far. Seven innings, 144 runs, and a strike rate of 125—definitely not up to the high standards she sets for herself," King stated.