A smashing unbeaten 64 from just 27 balls from Richa Ghosh and fifty from Ellyse Perry helped RCB break the record for the highest successful chase in WPL history in the opening game of WPL 2025 between Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

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

Smriti Mandhana won the toss and decided to feel first as the new season of the Women’s 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.

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 Singh’s 25/2, every RCB bowler was sent out of the park in the first inning. 

𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐏𝐋 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 🔥

Fifties from Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney helped Gujarat Giants put their highest score of 201 in WPL history!

The defending champions RCB will now have to chase 202 to win!#WPL2025 | #GGvsRCB | #WomensPremierLeague pic.twitter.com/OEZO9PziA6

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) February 14, 2025

RCB's shaky start to the chase

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 Giants’ fans, Beth Mooney missed a stumping of Perry four balls later. 

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

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

𝐎𝐇 𝐌𝐘 𝐆(𝐇)𝐎𝐒𝐇! 🔥

Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 64 from 27 balls helps RCB with the highest successful chase in WPL history! ✅

They have chased Gujarat Giants' 202-run target with 9 balls to go!

Fire-Power from Richa 🔥#RichaGhosh #WPL2025 #rcbvgg #GGvsRCB #RCB pic.twitter.com/VTbHkTTr6J

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) February 14, 2025

Seven out of seven wins. Invincible Pune Warriors defeated all the odds to come out victorious in the Women's Maharashtra Premier League 2025. 

While other franchises had big names, such as Smriti Mandhana, Tejal Hasabnis, and Kiran Navgire, among many other stars of the women's game, Pune Warriors had a clear plan and strategy. 

With only prominent names in Anuja Patil and Shweta Mane, the Pune Warriors Women's team depended on clear thoughts, executions and camaraderie to win the league. Team analyst Gaanesh Tyagi shared all the secrets in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Gaanesh is a high performance analyst from Mumbai, who has worked for more than 10 T20 franchise teams. He was also the analyst of the Mumbai Cricket team, which won their first ever Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament in 2023.

The team combination: All-rounders, effectiveness and youth

Even before stepping onto the field to win the tournament, teams must first succeed in a different battle during the draft or auction. This is where many teams secure half of their victory. Women’s cricket has different demands than men’s cricket, and in T20 cricket, the need for strong all-rounders reaches its peak. 

With captain Anuja Patil being the perfect all-rounder for the team, the coaching staff opted for additional all-rounders to effectively manage the middle overs. 

"The entire coaching staff and captain Anuja Patil were involved in building the team. We aimed to have more all-rounders while also featuring skilled individuals for every situation in the game,” Gaanesh explained to Sportz Point. 

Read Also: In a first, 10 UAE batters retire out in ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025

The roadmap and planning

During their initial meeting with the players, captain Anuja and the coaching staff discussed a comprehensive plan for winning the tournament. This provided every player with a clear roadmap and clarity on how they needed to prepare for each aspect of the game.

"In that first meeting, we talked about how we should be winning the tournament. Each player knew their role within the team, which helped provide a clear roadmap for everyone,” Gaanesh added.

Read Also: Exclusive: Bowls like Malinga, once doubted by her family, Nadia's Sonali Das is set for Bengal Pro T20 League dreams after 8-wicket haul in School Cricket

"Bowlers win you tournaments"

This phrase has become quite popular in world cricket. Even in the Indian Premier League, the team with the superior bowling combination often performs better. Analysts play a crucial role here by offering insights on optimal lengths, lines, speeds, and determining who should bowl at various stages of the game.

For Pune Warriors, prior to each match, analysts would provide each bowler with a specific plan to tackle all potential batters they might face.

"In women’s cricket, understanding lengths is crucial. Knowing what length to bowl against which batter is key. We had strategies for each opponent.

"So, it was all about execution on the field, which our bowlers accomplished successfully. That’s why we had two bowlers, Chinmayee Bhorpale (the Purple Cap winner) and Anuja Patil, in the top five highest wicket-takers list," Gaanesh stated. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (@wmplt20tournament)

Anuja Patil- the Boss Lady

When you have a young and relatively inexperienced team, it’s essential to have someone who can guide each player. Just as the Rajasthan Royals had Shane Warne, Pune Warriors had Anuja Patil. 

Anuja, who has played 50 T20Is for the Indian national team, possesses the knowledge necessary to win cricket matches. With her leadership, every young player learned how to approach each match to achieve victory.

"We affectionately called her the 'Boss Lady.'

The entire team respected and followed her decisions. In tournaments like this, a clear direction is crucial, and Anuja provided the guidance we needed with her experience."

Read Also: Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

The Mix of Youth and Experience

Balancing the mix of youth and experience in team building can be challenging. Some players on the squad were born after Anuja and Shweta Mane began their cricket careers.

There was a noticeable gap in age and experience, so the team needed to blend these elements effectively to perform at their best.

Both Anuja and Mane acted as both friends and firm mentors, fostering a harmonious environment that brought out the best in young players like 17-year-old Akshaya Jadhav, 16-year-old Suhani Kahandal, and U-23 player Khushi Mulla, who ended up being the fourth-highest run-scorer of the tournament.

"Youth at the top and experince in the middle"

Although the powerplay and death overs seem to be entertaining, it is the middle overs that decide the winner in a T20 game. Be it with the bat or ball, the 7-15 overs of a T20I game are the most crucial overs.

That is why Pune Warriors had the plan of having the most experienced players playing the middle order, be it with the bat or ball. 

That even allowed youngsters like Khushi Mulla, Suhani Kahandal and Akshaya Jadhav to have the freedom to enjoy the game. 

"The middle overs control the outcome of the game. We even saw Smriti Mandhana batting in the middle order for Ratnagiri Jets. So, from the start of the tournament, we wanted to have experince in the middle overs and youth at the top," Gaanesh explained. 

"Discipline, calmness and execution"

Winning all seven of your games is a significant challenge, and in T20 cricket, it’s nearly impossible to maintain that momentum throughout.

However, according to Gaanesh, if the team maintains discipline, calmness, and focuses on execution, the chances of not losing become greater.

He recounted the last over of the final match against Solapur Smashers: “We needed to defend 9 from 6 and it became 4 from 4. But we kept calm under pressure and executed well to win the title.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (@wmplt20tournament)

What's next?

Whenever a team without many superstars win any tournament, there comes a question of whether they will be able to continue that in the next season. We have seen it with the Rajasthan Royals in the past as well.

Since winning the inaugural season, they have not been able to win any trophies. What's the secret sauce to keep winning? 

"Process," Gaanesh said. 

He feels all the youngsters who got a bit of fame and name from this season need to aim for bigger goals and achievements. This is how they will be able to keep them ready for next season. Most importantly, they need to focus on the process which has given them results.

Indian star opener Smriti Mandhana has regained the number one spot in the women's ICC ODI rankings for the first time since November 2019, according to the latest update released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.

Also Read: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

Mandhana surpassed Wolvaardt to claim top spot

The 28-year-old Mandhana has moved up one place to return to the top spot while South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has slipped to joint second place with new England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt after scoring 27 and 28 in the first two ODIs against the West Indies.

Mandhana now sits comfortably with 727 rating points after Wolvaardt held the top spot for over six months. The Indian star batsman has been in great form lately and scored the 11th century of her career, amassing 264 runs across five outings with a 52.80 averae and a strike rate of 90.41 during India's recent tri-series final against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo.

Mandhana named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

The India vice-captain had a stellar run in ODIs in 2024, following which she was named as the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, scoring more runs than she ever has before in a calendar year, racking up 747 runs in 13 innings. Mandhana is one of only four women to record at least 10 centuries, with her 4473 runs standing 10th on the all-time charts.

Mandhana’s rating points currently eight ahead of newly-appointed England skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt at 719 points. Wolvaardt dropped to equal second alongside Sciver-Brunt, while fellow South African’s Tazmin Brits (up five spots to 27th) and Sune Luus (up seven places to 42nd) are among the big movers this week on the list for ODI batters.

Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, being the only other Indian batters in the top 30, placed at 15th and 16th, respectively.

Women's ICC ODI Rankings

The schedule of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has been released. The Women's World Cup will begin on September 30 with hosts India playing their first match against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Also Read: BCCI announce Indian women's squad for ODI and T20I series against England

The eight-team tournament will be a round-robin format with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. The much-awaited final will be played on November 2. Australia will begin their campaign against New Zealand on October 1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

India vs Pakistan Match details

Due to tension between India and Pakistan, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka under the hybrid hosting model agreed upon by BCCI and PCB. In such a situation, the teams playing with Pakistan including India will go to Colombo, which is a neutral venue.

The most awaited match of the group stage between India and Pakistan will be played on 5th October in Colombo.

Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Venues

• India : Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam 
• Sri Lanka : Colombo

The tournament will be held at five major venues in the two countries. Bengaluru and Colombo have been shortlisted as potential hosts for the final.

Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Full Schedule

Every now and then, a year comes along that changes sports history. Imagine waiting years, even decades, for your favourite team to win. For fans across the globe, 2025 has turned that dream into reality.

This year has been special, marked by some of the longest trophy droughts in sports finally coming to an end. Teams like South Africa in cricket and Bologna in football have broken long-standing curses, proving that anything is possible. 

Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history? Join us as we explore why 2025 is a year sports fans won't soon forget, and is also termed as "Year of the underdogs."

1. South Africa won an ICC Trophy after 27 years/ 9,862 days

For nearly three decades, the "chokers" tag clung to the Proteas like an unwanted shadow. Time and again, they reached close to the glory, only to falter at crucial moments. But 2025 changed everything, as they lifted ICC WTC Trophy defeating a strong Australian side in the Final.

South Africa showcased a cricketing masterclass with extraordinary team efforts in a high-stakes final match. From Aiden Markram's century to Temba Bavuma's batting class, they gave it all to earn the standing ovation from the crowd as they walked with pride after the win.

This victory, as Mark Boucher previously said, indeed is the turnaround they needed to inspire future generations and earn global respect as champions that they truly deserve.

They made the world chant "It's time for Africa" with their performance.

Read Also: Most ICC Trophies by any men's team

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ICC (@icc)

2. RCB won their first ever IPL trophy after 18 years/ 6,570 days

For 18 painfully long years, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their passionate fans endured a rollercoaster of hope and heartbreak in IPL. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB delivered exceptional, balanced performance this season, finally breaking free of their curse.

The image of Virat Kohli lifting the IPL trophy, the last major piece missing from his glittering cabinet, was one of the most iconic sporting moments of this year. It not only signified the team's victory, but also the ultimate reward for loyalty and career-long excellence.

The overall team contribution and management are the key factors that led them to secure their place as champions, shutting all the haters down.

Read Also: IPL 2025: RCB batters create this unique history before the playoffs

AAAAARRRRR CEEEEEEE BEEEEEE ❤🏆#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/lp3AwgCVQl

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

3. Go Ahead Eagles won the KNVB Cup after 93 years/ 33,968 days

Go Ahead Eagles soared to their first major trophy in 93 years, winning the KNVB Cup in 2025. For generations of fans in Deventer, this was a moment they might have only dreamed of. The emotions outpouring after the victory were sensational.

Their journey in the tournament was an underdog saga, defeating AZ Alkmaar, where they equalised the final match in the 99th minute to take it to penalties, and ultimately winning it from there!

4. Bologna won the Italian Cup after 51 years/ 18,619 days

Bologna's victory in the Italian Cup after 51 years was a testament to patience and a perfectly executed season. Their triumph in 2025, defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the final, was a moment they manifested for years.

Key contributions from players like Don Ndoye, who scored the decisive goal despite returning from injury, and the tactical decisions of the coach, Vincenzo Italiano, brought joy to a city that waited for so long.

5.  Crystal Palace won the first ever major trophy (FA Cup) after 119 years/ 43,714 days

Perhaps the most astonishing drought-breaker of 2025 belonged to Crystal Palace. After 119 years, the Eagles finally lifted their first-ever major trophy, the FA Cup. 

The single decisive goal from Eberechi Eze and crucial saves from goalkeeper Dean Henderson shaped their 1-0 victory over Manchester City FC. This victory proved that even after more than a century, a club's biggest dream can still become reality!

Read Also: Football teams with most international trophies

6. Newcastle United won the League Cup after a long wait of 55 years/ 20,367 days

For the passionate supporters of Newcastle United, 2025 brought an end to a 55-year wait for a major domestic trophy as they won the English Football League Cup.

The sight of the Magpies defeating the 10-time champions Liverpool (1-2) was a powerful moment that reinforced belief in their new era. Goals from local hero Dan Burn and Alexander Isak brought the victory home for them.

7. Harry Kane won his first-ever major trophy (Bundesliga) after 32 years/ 11,676 days

For years, England's most prolific striker, Harry Kane, was burdened by an unfortunate tag: "trophy virgin." Despite his goal-scoring records and individual brilliance, a major team trophy has always slipped away from him.

But 2025 finally saw the narrative shattered as Kane immediately made his mark after joining Bayern Munich, leading them to their 33rd Bundesliga title. He was also the top scorer of the 2024-25 season, having scored 26 goals and 8 assists.

This victory felt like a personal one, putting a line to complete the picture in his football career.

Read Also: 11 players who have won the most trophies in football history

This one’s coming home with me! 🏆

Buzzing to be Bundesliga top goalscorer for the second year in a row and this one’s even more special as it goes alongside the Bundesliga title! Couldn’t have achieved this without the support of my teammates! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WnvIvCf28S

— Harry Kane (@HKane) May 17, 2025

8. Tottenham won the UEFA Europa League after 17 years/ 6,296 days

2025 finally broke Tottenham Hotspur's 17-year trophy drought, as they won the UEFA Europa League. This was a monumental win, bringing the title back to North London.

The tense final against Manchester United saw a crucial goal from Brennan Johnson secure the 1-0 victory. However, the most iconic image was Son Heung-min, the club's long-serving captain, finally lifting a major trophy.

After a decade of dedication and numerous near misses, Son's emotional moment, draped in the Korean flag, was the highlight of his commitment and love for football.

A moment Tottenham fans will never forget 🏆#UELfinal | @SpursOfficial pic.twitter.com/ROFK5pRtDD

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 22, 2025

The ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Final is in full swing at Lord's, an intense battle unfolding between cricketing giants Australia and South Africa. As Day 2 heats up, legendary all-rounder Ellyse Perry has stepped forward to reveal her predictions and insights.

Which team does the Australian icon believe has the edge? It it now time to find out.

Here's what Ellyse Perry predicts the winner of WTC 2025:

Ellyse Perry's WTC 2025 Champion

Ellyse Perry has backed her home nation, Australia, to emerge as the champions of the WTC 2023-25, without hesitation. She clearly has strong faith and confidence in the Australian side and their squad pick for the final, and believes they will take the title home for the 2nd time.

Read Also: Can South Africa escape the "chokers" tag in the WTC Final against Australia?

Perry's picks for individual glory: Smith for runs, Starc for wickets

Perry has also revealed the key performers she expects to dominate this monumental clash at Lord's:

• Most Runs: The Australian batter, Steve Smith, who is currently at the 6th position for most runs in WTC 2023-25 cycle with 1390 runs, will score the most runs in WTC 2025 final, according to Perry. Smith scored 66 runs in Day 1 and was dismissed by Aiden Markram.
• Most Wickets: Mitchell Starc is the pick for most wickets in WTC Final, who is currently at number 3 at highest wicket-takers list in WTC 2023-25 cycle, having taken 74 wickets. Starc took down both the South African openers in the conclusion of Day 1 in final.
• Player of the Match: Perry has gone with the wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey as the POTM pick, for his contributions as a middle-order batter and sharp dismissals.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lord's Cricket Ground (@homeofcricket)