“Down to two:
The home team and the squad backed by fervent support as if every arena is their own.
Meg Lanning anticipates a strong Royal Challengers Bangalore presence in Delhi’s packed Feroze Shah Kotla as they vie for the WPL 2024 title.
Smriti Mandhana acknowledges her team’s need to earn their fanbase’s allegiance come Sunday (March 17), recognizing it as borrowed support.
Delhi Capitals secure a direct spot in the final for the second consecutive year with a point to prove.
Lanning, unaccustomed to losing trophies yet to secure one in franchise cricket, aims to change their fate.
Despite consistent performances, they settled for second place in 2023 against Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians – a team RCB eliminated in this season’s Eliminator.
DC’s consistent lineup has propelled them to the finals with a game in hand, overcoming two narrow losses in the round-robin stage.
An adept opening pair, a resilient Jemimah Rodrigues, and effective bowlers like Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen have been their strengths.
However, their lower-middle order remains relatively untested, a vulnerability RCB has exploited in recent matches.
RCB’s journey to the final has been marked by redemption, with various players stepping up in crucial moments.
Mandhana’s leadership and calm demeanor have been influential, guiding the team through challenges.
Despite inconsistency, they’ve proven capable of upsetting stronger opponents.
As both teams prepare for the ultimate showdown, they’ve endured contrasting paths to the final.
Neither franchise has tasted victory in their respective men’s counterparts, making this final particularly significant.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is set to witness the crowning of a new champion on Sunday.
Match Details:
- Date: Sunday, March 17 at 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Match Expectations:
- Balanced boundary sizes favoring batsmen, with the pitch promising runs to those who apply themselves.
- Dew hasn’t posed significant challenges, making batting first likely to be the captain’s preference.
Team Updates:
- Delhi Capitals: Likely to maintain the same XI from their last league match, with attention on Marizanne Kapp’s fitness.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: Contemplating changes to strengthen their batting lineup, with Sophie Devine expected to retain her place.
Did You Know?
- Meg Lanning needs four runs to reclaim the Orange Cap from Ellyse Perry.
- Smriti Mandhana is 82 runs away from joining the 500-run club at WPL.
Player Quotes:
- Meg Lanning: Shares the team’s preparation and excitement heading into the final.
- Smriti Mandhana: Emphasizes consistency in training and mindset, irrespective of the match’s magnitude.”
TEAM SQUAD:
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | Delhi Capitals |
|---|---|
| Probable XI | Probable XI |
| Smriti Mandhana (C) | Meg Lanning (C) |
| Sophie Devine | Shafali Verma |
| S Meghana/Disha Kasat | Alice Capsey |
| Ellyse Perry | Jemimah Rodrigues |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | Marizanne Kapp |
| Sophie Molineux | Jess Jonassen |
| Georgia Wareham | Radha Yadav |
| Shreyanka Patil | Arundhati Reddy |
| Asha Sobhana | Taniyaa Bhatia (wk) |
| Shraddha Pokharkar | Shikha Pandey |
| Renuka Thakur | Minnu Mani/Titas Sadhu |
Leave a Reply