WPL 2025 [Twitter reactions]: Smriti Mandhana’s RCB suffers 3rd consecutive defeat as Gujarat Giants dominate in Bengaluru

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) endured another disappointing outing in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 as they suffered their third consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of Gujarat Giants.

Playing at home in Bengaluru, RCB failed to post a competitive total, managing only 125/7 in their 20 overs. Gujarat, led by a blistering knock from captain Ashleigh Gardner, chased down the target comfortably in just 16.3 overs, securing a commanding six-wicket victory.

RCB’s batting struggles continue as Gujarat Giants’ bowlers shine

RCB’s batting woes were again evident as they lost early wickets, struggling to build partnerships. Danni Wyatt-Hodge was dismissed for just 4 runs in the first over, while Ellyse Perry followed suit, falling for a duck to Gardner. Skipper Smriti Mandhana, who has been out of form, also failed to make an impact, managing just 10 off 20 balls before falling to Tanuja Kanwar.

The middle-order showed some fight, with Kanika Ahuja (33 off 28) and Raghvi Bist (22 off 19) stitching together a 48-run stand. However, regular wickets towards the end meant RCB could only muster 125/7. Gujarat’s bowling attack was disciplined, with Tanuja Kanwar (2/16) and Deandra Dottin (2/31) leading the charge, while Kashvee Gautam and Gardner also chipped in with a wicket each.

Also WATCH: Ashleigh Gardner strikes as Ellyse Perry records her first-ever WPL duck

Ashleigh Gardner’s power-packed fifty guides Gujarat to comfortable win

Chasing 126, Gujarat got off to a cautious start, losing Beth Mooney (17) and Dayalan Hemalatha (11) inside the powerplay. Harleen Deol struggled before falling for 5, leaving Gujarat at 66/3 in the 10th over. However, captain Gardner took charge, playing a stunning knock of 58 off just 31 balls, smashing six fours and three sixes.

Gardner’s counterattack, along with Phoebe Litchfield’s composed 30 off 21 balls, ensured Gujarat cruised to victory with 21 balls to spare. Georgia Wareham was the only bright spot for RCB with the ball, picking up 2/26, while Renuka Singh also grabbed two wickets. With this win, Gujarat climbed the points table, while RCB’s playoff hopes took a major hit with their third straight loss.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Smriti mandhana has to be the most overhyped female cricketer ever. The moment ball swings or spins she looks helpless. Never saw her performing in Knockouts, never saw her performing against big teams in imp games.
If not for rcb fan base she would’ve been history by now.

— Manas Chaurasiya (@manasolation_) February 27, 2025

One day Ellyse Perry failed to score runs & RCB couldn’t even touch 130 runs mark, this team is full of fraud & captained by biggest fraud Smriti Mandhana.

Smriti Mandhana is just female version of Babar Azam who fails in every world cup knock out and failed in RCB games too!! pic.twitter.com/Ywp2jED2eZ

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) February 27, 2025

Can’t play off spin, can’t take on SLA… What is Smriti’s strength

— arfan (@Im__Arfan) February 27, 2025

2 wins in 2 matches to 2 wins in 5 matches.
Top of table to a possible fifth in table…..
Horrible display of batting.

3 more matches to go

— RCB Xtra (@Xtra_vids) February 27, 2025

RCB women’s team is just like the RCB men’s team.

First, they will win a few matches, and we’ll feel like, “Damn, this time the cup is ours.”
Then, they’ll start losing matches in such a way that we’ll have to bring out the calculator.

— Mayurrrr (@themayurchouhan) February 27, 2025

I’m so done with being an RCB fan 🙂

— Jaanvi🏏 (@that_shutterbug) February 27, 2025

This is tough
From starting 2 win in 2 matches They lost 3 consecutive

Openers are doing nothing

Richa only batted well in 1-2 match

Smriti Danni Richa are 3 batters we expect most after Perry in batting but all have been very disappointing except 1-2 match

— CricShyr (@cricshyr) February 27, 2025

Ashleigh Gardner’s Gujarat Giants Crush RCB in WPL 2025! 🔥

– Smriti Mandhana’s side endures their third straight defeat of the season.#Cricket #WPL #WPL2025 #CricketTwitter #WomenCricket pic.twitter.com/M1oDsySZ7g

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) February 27, 2025

A hard pill 💊 to swallow, despite a tough fight from Renuka and Wolfie 😔

We will be come back stronger. 💪#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #SheIsBold #WPL2025 #RCBvGG pic.twitter.com/y7LmXAKaWk

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 27, 2025

𝘼𝙖𝙟 𝙠𝙞 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞 𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙛 𝙨𝙚 🥳#RCBvGG #TATAWPL2025 #GujaratGiants #BringItOn #Adani pic.twitter.com/SW7jGIlNy5

— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) February 27, 2025

Also WATCH: Shabnim Ismail knocks over Sophie Ecclestone’s middle stump with an absolute snorter

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.