The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have announced their player retentions ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. The defending champions have chosen to keep a significant portion of their successful squad intact, retaining 14 players from last year’s victorious campaign.
Once again, Smriti Mandhana will lead the franchise. Her leadership has been pivotal in RCB’s success, and the team is poised to build on last year’s title win.
Whom did RCB Retain?
Among the retained players are standout performers like Shreyanka Patil, Ellyse Perry, Asha Sobhana, and Sophie Devine. Each contributed significantly to RCB’s title win last season. The franchise has also made a strategic trade, acquiring Dani Wyatt from UP Warriorz, further strengthening their roster.
RCB’s first choice for wicketkeeper continues to be Richa Ghosh. She had an impressive season last year, scoring 257 runs in ten matches with a strike rate of 142. Owing to her impressive performances in the last season, she has also been retained by RCB.
Full List of RCB Retained Players: Smriti Mandhana, Sabbineni Meghana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Shobhana, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, Sophie Molineux, Ekta Bhist, Kate Cross, Kanika Ahuja, and Danni Wyatt.
Whom did RCB Release?
The franchise has released several local players, including Simran Bahadur, Shubha Sateesh, and Disha Kasat. This decision aligns with RCB’s strategy to enhance their squad depth while maintaining a competitive edge in the league.
RCB have also released Nadine de Klerk, an all-rounder who had limited impact during her time with the team. De Klerk joined RCB as a replacement for England captain Heather Knight in the previous season but only played one match, scoring just one run and taking two wickets.
While RCB has retained a strong core, there is a noticeable gap in their fast-bowling lineup. The team currently lacks a lead pacer to complement Renuka Singh and Ellyse Perry in the bowling department. It is expected that RCB will actively seek to fill this position during the upcoming mini-auction.
With four spots remaining to be filled at the auction, RCB has a purse of INR 3.25 crore available for new signings. Notably, all four new players will be Indian, as RCB has already filled their overseas slots.
Full List of RCB Released Players: Disha Kasat, Indrani Roy, Nadine de Klerk, Shubha Satheesh, Shraddha Pokarkar, Simran Bahadur.
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