It is time to take a look at the RCB Women best playing XI for WPL 2024 as the second edition of the tournament is just a few hours away. Royal Challengers Bangalore Women had a disastrous campaign in the inaugural season and will be hopeful of better results this time around.
RCB Women, led by Smriti Mandhana, had a pretty strong side with some great names but they massively underperformed as a team. They finished fourth on the table in the WPL 2023, losing six matches and winning only twice.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women will begin their WPL 2024 campaign on February 24, where they will face UP Warriorz Women at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The first half of the tournament is scheduled to be played at Bengaluru and RCB Women will have the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd.
Before the women in red and gold begin their campaign, here is everything you need to know about the Royal Challengers Bangalore Women's full squad and the RCB Women best playing XI for WPL 2024.
UP Warriorz Women: UPW Women best playing XI for WPL 2024
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Women full squad for WPL 2024
Smriti Mandhana (captain), Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Indrani Roy (wk), Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh (wk), Shreyanka Patil, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux, Nadine de Klerk
RCB Women best playing XI for WPL 2024
Following a poor maiden season, RCB Women released some of their players from the previous year ahead of the WPL 2024 auction. They let go of Erin Burns, Megan Schutt and Dane van Niekerk and brought in Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham and Kate Cross in the auction.
Among Indians, they signed left-arm orthodox spinner Ekta Bisht, all-rounder Shubha Satheesh, top-order batter Sabbhineni Meghana and seam bowler Simran Bahadur. Heather Knight had to withdraw from this season due to a clash of commitments while Kanika Ahuja was also ruled out with injury.
Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham will be the four overseas players in the RCB Women best playing XI. The spin department was RCB Women's biggest issue last year. They have sorted it this season but pace bowling looks thin.
1. Smriti Mandhana (c)
One of the major reasons for RCB Women’s failure last season was their skipper Smriti Mandhana’s poor form. The Indian superstar could only manage 149 runs from eight innings at an average of just 18.62 and failed to score a single fifty. She will be eager to produce better returns in the WPL 2024 and is a must in RCB Women best playing XI for WPL 2024.
2. Sophie Devine
Sophie Devine is one of the most destructive batters in the world and can tear apart any bowling unit on her day. Devine had a poor start to the season last year but gained form later. She scored 259 runs in the season at an average of 33 while striking at 173, with a highest score of 99. Devine didn't bowl much in the previous edition but could be used more this time as RCB lacks quality pace options.
3. Sabbhineni Meghana
This one spot in the RCB playing XI could be a toss-up between Sabbhineni Meghana and Disha Kasat. Meghana, who played for Gujarat Giants last year, could be preferred due to more experience.
4. Ellyse Perry
Ellyse Perry is one of the greatest players in the game and she continues to evolve her game with the improvement in her power-hitting. Perry scored 253 runs in the previous edition of the WPL at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 123, including two fifties. She remains a key member of the RCB Women best playing XI for WPL 2024. Perry will have to contribute with the ball as well, given the lack of depth in RCB's pace resources.
5. Richa Ghosh (wk)
Richa Ghosh is one of the best hitters in Indian cricket and she recently did well against Australia. She is an important figure in the Royal Challengers Bangalore Women playing XI as their designated wicket-keeper. Ghosh didn't have a great season last year, with 138 runs from seven innings at an average of 23. RCB Women would hope for a better campaign from Richa.
6. Georgia Wareham
Georgia Wareham is a quality leg-break bowler who is pretty good with the bat as well. The all-rounder has been doing a solid job for Australia in recent times. Wareham has an excellent record in T20 cricket with 110 wickets at an economy of 6.75. With the bat, she has over 800 runs at an average of 25 while striking at 126.
7. Sophie Molineux
Another Australian spin all-rounder, Sophie Molineux should make it into the RCB Women best playing XI. The left-arm orthodox spinner is one of the best in women's cricket. She has 109 wickets in T20 cricket at an economy of 6.45 and has scored over 1800 runs with seven fifties. Lower middle order and spin bowling were big issues for RCB Women last year and with Wareham and Molineux, they have solved both.
8. Shubha Satheesh
Shubha Satheesh is a technically solid batter and can bowl seam. She can bat aggressively and could float around in the batting order. She is coming off good form in domestic cricket.
9. Shreyanka Patil
Shreyanka Patil has had a good growth since playing for RCB Women in the inaugural edition. She has gone on to play six T20Is and two ODIs for India. Shreyanka is a skilful off-break bowler and is more than handy with the bat. Patil brings a variety to the RCB Women best playing XI.
10. Simran Bahadur
Simran Bahadur has played six T20Is for India. A right-arm seamer who can bat a bit, Bahadur could be a good addition to the RCB playing XI.
11. Renuka Singh
Renuka Singh will be the frontline pacer in the RCB Women best playing XI for WPL 2024. She had a poor campaign with the ball last year but remains a key part of the side. She had an excellent series versus England in December, picking seven wickets from three T20Is.
