RCB’s home struggles raise tactical concerns as Smriti Mandhana quickly broke away from the celebratory huddle and rushed toward the RCB dugout to connect with her coaching staff. Moments earlier, Richa Ghosh had displayed her composure under pressure, emulating MS Dhoni by calmly jogging to break the stumps with her bare hands rather than risking an underarm throw. UP Warriorz, needing just one run off the final legal delivery, found themselves in shock as their last batter was run out, forcing the first-ever Super Over in Women’s Premier League history.
While RCB reeled from the dramatic turn of events, Jon Lewis took charge in the UP Warriorz dugout, quickly strategizing for the crucial Super Over. Despite her struggles earlier in the game, Chinelle Henry was chosen to open due to her reputation as a power hitter, accompanied by Grace Harris. Meanwhile, Sophie Ecclestone, fresh from a vital cameo, was seen mentally preparing herself should the opportunity arise again.
Ecclestone was frustrated with herself after putting Kranti Goud under pressure with a single off the penultimate ball when two runs were needed off two deliveries. However, what initially seemed like a blunder turned into a match-winning performance. RCB, holding a commanding position with UPW requiring 42 off the last 18 balls with only two wickets in hand, inexplicably let the game slip away.
At that point, Ecclestone had managed only 3 runs off 8 balls, batting alongside the tail after Henry’s dismissal in the 17th over. But Georgia Wareham’s errant length provided her an opening, and she capitalized with two massive shots—one over square leg and another straight over the bowler’s head—suddenly bringing UPW back into the game. When Saima Thakor was run out in the 19th over, the chase seemed to be slipping again, with 18 needed off the final over and just one wicket in hand.
Mandhana’s first critical tactical misstep was entrusting Renuka Thakur with the final over instead of Ellyse Perry. Thakur initially delivered a dot ball, seemingly validating the decision, but then lost control of her lengths. Ecclestone pounced, smashing two sixes to the on-side and deftly guiding another delivery past short third for four. Suddenly, only two runs were required off two balls, and the previously raucous crowd fell silent. Many questioned whether Perry, despite her recent return from injury, should have been given the crucial over.
RCB’s post-match explanations avoided confirming whether Perry had an over left, and Sneh Rana, speaking in the press conference, defended the team’s decision, insisting Thakur was still one of the world’s best bowlers. However, moments later, when the Super Over arrived, RCB opted against using Thakur, turning instead to Kim Garth, who conceded only eight runs. The decision highlighted RCB’s realization—perhaps too late—that Thakur was struggling for rhythm.
Yet, Mandhana herself became the focus of the second major tactical misjudgment. Anticipating that Ecclestone would bowl the Super Over, RCB opted for a left-handed batter to counter her left-arm spin, sending Mandhana in ahead of Perry. However, the RCB captain, already struggling for fluency, failed to connect effectively, managing just four singles. Meanwhile, Perry—who had earlier smashed a WPL career-best 90 off 56 balls—waited on the sidelines.
With Perry in red-hot batting form, depriving her of the opportunity to chase down eight runs could prove to be a costly blunder when the final points tally is determined. While Thakur’s struggles in the final over exposed RCB’s death-bowling vulnerabilities, it also underlined broader concerns regarding their end-game strategies. In both their home matches this season, they have squandered strong positions, allowing opposition teams to snatch victories.
In their previous match against Mumbai Indians, a favorable matchup for Amanjot Kaur in the 19th over allowed her to accelerate and take the game away. Despite Perry’s heroic performances in both games, RCB’s inability to close out tight matches has emerged as a glaring weakness. The fact that back-to-back home losses have not yet affected their position in the points table is misleading.
