Richa Ghosh becomes the fastest Indian woman cricketer to score a half-century in WODIs. The teen cricketer achieved this unbelievable feat while batting against New Zealand in the fourth ODI of NZW vs INDW.
The 18-year-old smashed 52 runs in just 29 balls, which included 4 fours and 4 sixes. Very recently, she made another record of being the youngest Indian wicket-keeper to score a half-century in women's ODI. At the age of 18 years and 140 days, Richa achieved the milestone in the second ODI in the ongoing series.
The Indian team witnessed some praiseworthy performances, but White Ferns are clearly leading and dominating with a massive victory of 4-0.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered their straight second win of the WPL 2025, as they defeated telecoms by six wickets in Vadodara on Monday. Smriti Mandhana's 81 from 47 and Renuka Singh's three wickets helped them get an easy win to reach the top of the points table. RCB chased down Delhi's 142-run target with 22 balls to go and 8 wickets in hands.
Renuka and Wareham impressed for RCB with the ball
Smriti Mandhana won the toss and decided to bowl first on a wicket that was a little bit damp as per the pitch report. Renuka Singh Thakur, just like the first match, struck early to give moment term to RCB.
The Indian medium pacer dismissed dangerous Shafali Verma on a golden duck. But Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Meg Lanning made sure Delhi Capitals were off to a good start in the first inning.
Jemimah Rodrigues struck a quick 22-ball 34. Image | BCCI
Though Lanning was steady and slow, Jemimah looked apart with shots around the ground. She hit two sixes one over the cover and one over square leg to prove her range of shots. However, it was her willingness to hit too many kinds of shots, which was the cause of her dismissal.
Despite scoring at more than 150 strike rate, Jemimah decided to play a reverse sweep and was stumped by Richa Ghosh off Georgia Wareham on 34 off 22.
Renuka Singh took three wickets against Delhi Capitals. Image | BCCI
It was her wicket that gave the momentum back to RCB as Kim Garth dismissed Meg Lanning with a short ball in the next over. Except for Sarah Bryceβs 23 from 19, no Delhi Capitals batter could get a start and eventually, they were bundled out for 141 in the first inning.
Renuka Singh won the Purple cap after here 23/3 while Georgia Wareham also took 3 for 24. Kim Garth and Ekta Bisht finished with two wickets each for RCB as well.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Smriti Mandhana put up a 107-run partnership for RCB vs Delhi Capitals. Image | BCCI
In the second innings, RCB captain Smirti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge gave the defending champions a solid opening start which enabled them to chase down the total easily. Their powerplay score of 57/0 gave them a solid platform to finish well.
In a small tournament like the Womenβs Premier League, where matches are less, net run rate is something every team wants to have in their kitty. RCB after a great start also wanted to have a higher net run rate against Delhi Capitals.
Smriti Mandhana completed her first fifty of the season in 27 balls while Danni Wyatt-Hodge kept on supporting her from the other end. Soon, their partnership crossed 100 in just 62 balls to stamp their authority.
Danni (42 off 33) was dismissed while going for a big shot against Arundhati Reddy but Mandhana kept on striking at her best to ensure RCB managed an easy win.
Mandhana was out after her highest WPL score of 81 off 47. Image | BCCI
Delhi could have made a comeback in the match but just like last match Ellyse Perry was dropped on 1 off Jess Jonassen. They finally struck back but it was already too late for them. Shikha Pandey dismissed Mandhana while playing a scoop on 81 from 47, her highest in WPL career. However, only 9 were needed at that time.
In the end, Richa Ghosh ended the game with a huge six to take RCB to the top of the points table with 22 balls to go in the match.
WPL 2025 GG vs RCB match report: Richa Ghosh's devastating inning helps RCB with highest successful chase in WPL history
Richa Ghosh's smashing 64 from just 27 balls and a fifty from Ellyse Perry helped RCB make the highest successful chase of WPL history in the GG vs RCB game in the WPL 2025 opener.
Ashleigh Gardner's unbeaten 79 from 37 balls helped Gujarat Giants reach their highest-ever score of 201 in the first innings. In reply, RCB chased down the target with 9 balls to go and six wickets in hands after Richa Ghosh played one of the most devastating knocks of the tournament's history.
Gardner and Mooney show in the first inning
Beth Mooney scored a good 56 from 42 balls in the first inning. Image | BCCI
Smriti Mandhana won the toss and decided to feel first as the new season of the Womenβs Premier League was introduced in Vadodara. Giants had a steady powerplay of 39 runs while losing only one wicket of Laura Wolvaardt (6). Laura was dismissed by Renuka Singh in the fifth over while Dayalan Hemalatha (4) was sent back to the pavilion by Kanika Ahuja in the seventh over.
Then, it was the partnership between Captain Ashleigh Gardner and opener Beth Mooney that gave Gujarat the momentum they were looking for. Though Mooney was dismissed by Prema Rawat in the 12th over after a solid 56 from 42 balls, Gardner continued smashing the ball for fun.
Ashleigh Gardner scored an unbeaten 79 from 37 balls. Image | BCCI
Gardner along with West Indian all-rounder Deandra Dottin put up a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take Gujarat Giants close to 150 with nearly four overs to go in the innings.
The Aussie all-rounder then added 49 in the last three overs including a 20-run overs against VJ Joshitha and Georgia Wareham. Gardner remained unbeaten on 79 from 37 balls, which included 3 boundaries and 8 massive sixes.
This was the highest score by any Gujarat Giants batter in WPL history as they scored their highest score of 201/5 in the tournament so far. Except for Renuka Singhβs 25/2, every RCB bowler was sent out of the park in the first inning.
Ashleigh Gardner struck twice in her first over. Image | BCCI
While chasing a big total of 202, RCB lost two early wickets, both to Ashleigh Gardner. The off-spinner first trapped Smriti Mandhana in front of the wicket on 9 and then clean bowler Danni Wyatt-Hodge on 4.
But a great day for Aussies continued in the opening game of WPL 2025 as Ellyse Perry struck a solid partnership with Raghvi Bist to keep RCB in the chase.
Missed chances and Perry's fifty
Perry started hitting the ball out of the middle of the bat from the start and found gaps easily. The scene would have been different for RCB if Perry had not been dropped on 20 from 14 balls by Harleen Deol at long-on in the 8th over.
If the missed catch was not good enough to break the hearts of Giantsβ fans, Beth Mooney missed a stumping of Perry four balls later.
Ellyse Perry scored 57 from 34 balls. Image | BCCI
Perry took advantage of the missed chances by GG fielders and reached her fifty in just 27 balls. Post her fifty, Perry lost her partner Raghvi Bist (25) while going for a big shot. But, luckily for RCB, incoming batter Richa Ghosh was dropped on duck by Simran Shaikh off Priya Mishra in the 12th over of the second inning.
Richa Ghosh with WPL's most devastating inning
Richa Ghosh played one of the most devastating innings of WPL history. Image | BCCI
Perry (57) was dismissed in the 13th over by Sayali Satghare but Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja took the game away from Gujarat Giants with some massive hits. A few miss fielding from Gujarat Giants' fielders helped RCB as well.
Richa Ghosh completed her fifty in just 23 balls and took the game by storm. Gaints' bowlers could not just find any answer to the power-hitting of the wicket-keeper batter. Kanika Ahuja also supported her with a quick-fire unbeaten 30 from 13 balls.
Ghosh remained undefeated on 64 from 27 balls including 7 boundaries and 4 sixes as she finished the game with a six. Eventually, RCB won the game with six wickets in hand and 9 balls to go.
GG vs RCB Score Summary
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Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 64 from 27 balls helps RCB with the highest successful chase in WPL history! β
They have chased Gujarat Giants' 202-run target with 9 balls to go!
Richa Ghosh to miss home series against New Zealand due to board exams
Indian wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh will miss the home series against New Zealand due to her class 12 board exams. BCCI released the full squad for the three-match ODI home series against New Zealand.
Indian wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh will miss the home series against New Zealand due to her class 12 board exams as BCCI released the full squad for the three-match ODI home series against New Zealand.
Richa has been playing for the Indian Women's Cricket team since the age of 16 and was not able to give her class 12th board exam during this period.
The 21-year-old wicket-keeper batter was replaced by Uma Chetry in the squad. Pace bowling all-rounders Sayali Satghare and Saima Thakor, legspinner Priya Mishra and middle-order batter Tejal Hasabnis received their maiden call-ups as Pooja Vastrakar was rested while Asha Sobhana was unavailable for the selection due to injury.
India will play all three WODIs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Indiaβs squad for the three ODI series against New Zealand:
Neetu David: The Spin Queen of Indian Womenβs Cricket Immortalized in the ICC Hall of Fame
An unwavering warrior on the field, a guiding force off itβNeetu Davidβs journey to the ICC Hall of Fame is a story of quiet perseverance, remarkable achievements, and deep love for cricket
On Wednesday, Neetu David was enlisted into the ICC Hall of Fame, becoming the second Indian woman, after Diana Edulji, to receive this prestigious honor.
Neetu David, who has dedicated her life to the sport, both as a player and as an administrator, rightly deserves this moment. However, it's not just recognizing the number enscripted in the record books, but many unsaid contributions, her craft of spin bowling, and her presence on the off-field encouraging women's cricket for a better future.
The Record-Setting Spinner
Neetu Davidβs career speaks volumes in numbersβ141 wickets in 97 ODIs, 41 wickets in 10 Tests. Moreover, she proudly carries her tag as the first Indian woman to cross the 100-wicket milestone in ODIs.
It was in a 1995 Test match against England that Neetu David etched her name in history. Her spell of 8/53 remains the best-ever bowling figure in a womenβs Test innings to this day. Even though India faced a heartbreaking two-run loss, Neetuβs had set the gold standard for slow bowling. To be honest, scalping eight wickets is fiery enough in those days. But when it comes with grace and consistency, it is something that needs to be worshipped.
Her meticulous ability to vary her pace, loop the ball just right, and outsmart batters is what made Neetu David a nightmare for batters across the world. It would be absolutely wrong to say that she was a bowler. She literally planned and crafted her dismissals, giving treats to the eyes.
A Journey Across Three World Cups
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David has played in three World Cups and has experienced both glory and heartbreak. A semi-final finish in 1997 on home soil and an early exit in 2000βshe went through all but stayed tall with the ball in hand.
However, she was in her peak form in the 2005 Womenβs World Cup in South Africa. Neetu concluded as the tournamentβs leading wicket-taker, bagging 20 wickets, guiding India towards their maiden final. Well, again, Australia being the major hurdle for India shattering the dream.
The 2005 final was bittersweet for Neetu. She had done everything within her power, but her fate didn't support it. Nonetheless, her place among the tournament's best was unquestionable, and her leadership on the field earned her the admiration of peers and rivals alike.
The Transition from Player to Selector
David retired from international cricket in 2006 but did not leave the field. She had her brief outing in 2008 but soon realized her greater calling lay off the field. She played her last domestic match in 2013 for the Railways, aiding them to win the Senior Women's T20 League title.
In 2020, David was appointed as the Chair of the Womenβs Selection Committee for India, on the eve of the new era in Indiaβs womenβs cricket. During her tenure, the team made rapid transitions, including the retirements of legends like Mithali Rajand Jhulan Goswami.
Beyond the Numbers: Neetuβs Everlasting Influence
Davidβs induction into the ICC Hall of Fame is more than just a recognition of her numbers. It is about honoring a cricketer who helped pave the way for future generations. Womenβs cricket in India today stands on the shoulders of pioneers like Neetu, who fought against the odds, often without the resources or recognition their male counterparts enjoyed.
Her journey from a 17-year-old debutant to a Hall of Famer is one filled with grit, determination, and a love for the sport that transcends records. Neetu David may have left the playing field, but her legacy continues to spin its way into the future of Indian cricket.
Why can't Indian Women's Cricket team win any trophies? Here are the reasons and solutions to that
Indian Women's Cricket team have failed yet another time in the ICC tournament as they crashed out from the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 from the group stage.
Indian Women's Cricket team have failed yet another time in the ICC tournament as they crashed out from the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 from the group stage.
But, it was not the first time India failed to do well in an ICC tournament. In fact, the Indian Women's team never won an ICC trophy since their existence. But, what are the reasons for that?
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