The WPL 2024 match between Gujarat Giants and RCB Women will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on March 6 starting at 7:30 pm IST. The match in Delhi starts on March 5 and this is the second match in the city. The tournament will conclude in Delhi with the final on March 17.
RCB Women will be led by Smriti Mandhana who finally scored her first WPL fifty against Delhi Capitals Women. Her next two best WPL scores are against the Gujarat Giants. In the previous match between the two teams, RCB Women won by 8 wickets chasing a paltry 108.
Beth Mooney-led Gujarat Giants are still looking for their first win in WPL 2023. They lost one game each against the other four teams with their previous loss against Delhi Capitals women.
Team analysis
Royal Challengers Bangalore Women
Smriti Mandhana, leading the team, had a better start with the bat and as captain. He has won two games beating Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz. However, his team lost against the two best teams, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals Women.
Mandhana is the fourth highest run-getter with 139 runs in four games. Asha Sobhana has gone a little soft since her fifties against UP Warriorz. The team would look for a collective effort against the Gujarat Giants.
Gujarat Giants
The Giants are winless in the tournament so far. They have lost four games and that too by huge margins, which has also affected their NRR. They now have four games left in the Delhi leg of WPL 2024 and need to win all four to stay alive in the tournament.
The Giants were asked to set goals in the first three games. In the fourth, they failed to chase down 164 for victory against Delhi Capitals women.
The franchise and supporting staff are finding it difficult to find answers to their chaotic performance so far this season. They finished last in WPL 2023 and another loss will all but end their playoff hopes.
Key factors
Field conditions
Unlike Bengaluru, where teams won by chasing, in Delhi teams would like to bat first and set targets. The venue always helps create spin in T20 matches, as we have seen in the men’s IPL as well. Historically, Delhi has not been a high-scoring venue like other venues in India in T20s.
Therefore, a score of around 160-170 could be the winner. Teams here may prefer to set targets and the first match will give us a very good idea of how to proceed here in Delhi.
Form and fitness
The Gujarat Giants are concerned with both the form and fitness of the players. Kashvee Gautam and Lauren Cheatle have already withdrawn from the tournament for different reasons.
While Chetle has health issues, Gautam is battling a calf injury that has prevented him from participating in this season’s WPL. She was the most expensive player this season bought by the Gujarat Giants for Rs 2 crore.
Tactical insight
Both Smriti and Mooney have been experienced defenders when it comes to captaincy. So far in WPL 2024, Mandhana’a’s captaincy has been much better than the first season. Mooney, on the other hand, seems to have a difficult time handling his players, especially getting the best out of them.
Also Read: Beth Mooney replaces Sneh Rana as Gujarat Giants captain at WPL 2024
Recent records of the place (Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi)
STATISTICS – T20
Total matches 13
Matches won by batting the first 4
Matches won bowling first 9
Average score for 1st Inns 139
Average score for 2nd Inns 133
Highest recorded total 212/3 (19.1 Ov) by RSA vs IND
Lowest total on record 120/10 (19.3 Ov) by SL vs RSA
Highest Score Chased 212/3 (19.1 Ov) by RSA vs IND
Lowest score defended 96/7 (20 Ov) by INDW vs PAKW
Who will score the most runs for RCB women: Smriti Mandhana/Sophie Devine
Who will take most wickets for RCB women? Sobhana Asha / Renuka Singh
Who will score the most runs for the Gujarat Giants: Phoebe Litchfield / Ashleigh Gardner
Who will take most wickets for Gujarat giants: Tanuja Kanwar/Meghna Singh
Today’s match prediction GUJ-W vs BAN-W: Who will win today’s WPL match? WPL 2024, match 13
RCB Women won the previous match between the two teams and it looks like they will win this match too with players in better form. RCB have a 2-1 record in three matches against the Gujarat Giants.
Conclusion
A win will take RCB women closer to the playoffs. Another defeat for the Gujarat Giants will almost spell the end of their campaign. This is the first match of both teams in Delhi.
Also Read: Nat Sciver-Brunt says money played a big role in deciding to play for Mumbai Indians instead of England