Despite Royal Challengers Bengaluru not reaching the WPL 2025 playoffs, their captain, Smriti Mandhana, the captain of 2024 champions, highlighted her satisfaction with the team’s resilience throughout the tournament. This came after they concluded their season with a win against Mumbai Indians. Mandhana pointed out that narrow defeats in crucial matches prevented them from securing a playoff spot, but she commended her players for maintaining unity and determination even when faced with setbacks.
“We were joking after the match that our season started and ended on a high note. It was the middle phase where we faltered. That pretty much sums up our season. Considering the significant player turnover post-auction, we had considerable strategizing to do before the season began. However, our initial performance gave us confidence. Unfortunately, many factors in Bangalore didn’t favor us. Despite this, I am immensely proud of the character the team displayed,” Mandhana stated.
“Losing close games repeatedly takes a toll on any team. Our initial two to three losses were incredibly tight. Yet, everyone remained positive, even until our last match in Lucknow. We genuinely believed we had a chance, and everyone was determined to win. As a captain, this is incredibly heartening. In franchise cricket, wins and losses are part of the game. Sometimes, things align, and you win. But when things don’t go your way, and the team remains united, that, to me, defines a true team.”
RCB commenced their campaign impressively with two consecutive victories. However, a series of five subsequent losses, including four at their home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, ultimately diminished their chances of qualifying for the playoffs. The first two home defeats were particularly agonizingly close – Mumbai Indians clinched victory with just one ball remaining, while UP Warriorz emerged victorious in a Super Over. Smriti Mandhana identified these defeats as a critical turning point in RCB’s campaign but refrained from assigning blame.
“I believe those first two matches in Bangalore were pivotal. Last season, we were successful in winning such tight contests. Sometimes, despite doing many things correctly, the final overs don’t go as planned. Last year, we capitalized on those crucial moments, but this year, particularly in those first two Bangalore matches, we couldn’t seize those moments. I feel this was a turning point for us, especially those initial two games. We were in control until around the 38th over, feeling like the match was ours, but the last couple of overs shifted the game. But that’s the unpredictable nature of cricket. However, I believe winning those two matches could have placed us at the top of the table.”
“Looking back, I don’t want to single out any specific factor as the sole reason. As a team, we collectively feel we could have contributed more. Personally, as a batter, my mid-phase performance wasn’t up to par in terms of scoring runs. I believe everyone shares responsibility in both wins and losses. As a team, we take collective responsibility. It’s inaccurate to pinpoint a single moment as the game-changer. As captain, I feel that throughout the tournament, we weren’t able to seize the crucial moments as effectively as we desired, and that’s an area we will focus on improving,” Mandhana concluded.
