Even the best batters go through protracted slumps that earn them harsh criticism. In the Women’s Premier League 2023 (WPL 2023), RCB captain Smriti Mandhana is one player who is going through a similar stage. Many people believe her auction price, which set a record, had an impact on her performances.
After a close loss to the Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2023, Royal Challengers Bangalore‘s agony in the WPL 2023 continued as Smriti Mandhana’s squad fell to their fifth straight loss in the tournament. In a thrilling final round, Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen brought their team home to maintain their position at the top of the standings.
The Delhi Capitals lost their out-smashing opener Shafali Verma for a first-ball duck against Australian pacer Megan Schutt during the WPL 2023 in the match as they attempted to chase a par total. The Capitals scored at a respectable rate during the field limitations despite that early setback thanks to Alice Capsey, who put the RCB bowlers to the test with a quickfire 38 off 24 deliveries.
Meg Lanning didn’t make the most of her start as the RCB cheaply dismissed the Delhi captain to get back into the game in the WPL 2023. Despite the latter’s removal for a well-made 32, Marizanne Kapp and Jemimah Rodrigues made sure that their team never went too far behind the rate.
RCB was able to exert some pressure with a few quiet overs, but in the end, the expertise of Kapp and Jess Jonassen won out as the pair led their team to victory in a nail-biting final over to earn their fourth victory of the season.
READ MORE: WPL 2023: Know Your Team – Delhi Capitals
Smriti Mandhana, on the other hand, can be seen continuing her poor run of form. Mandhana started off with her bat with six consecutive dot balls and never seemed at ease in the middle till she was bowled by Shikha Pandey for her dismissal in the fifth over.
The replay of Mandhana’s dismissal showed that Pandey had carefully planned her trap and waited for a player to be at deep square leg before attacking. She then made her maiden strike with a back-of-a-length delivery that Mandhana attempted to lift over deep mid-wicket, only for the ball to land in Jemimah Rodrigues’ hands well in advance of the boundary line.
As her teammates approached her to congratulate her on the noteworthy wicket, Pandey gestured towards Meg Lanning with a smile on her face to indicate that the job was finished.
Twitterati, on the other hand, did not hold back in criticizing Mandhana, who led RCB to four straight losses prior to this match and had little influence with the bat to help the team come back in the competition.
Smriti Mandhana, RCB captain said after the game: “Really good effort by our bowlers to take it till the 20th over. Definitely a lot of improvements but a lot of things to work on still. The partnership got us into the game, they both batted brilliantly. They used their experience to get us to a defendable total. Not the best of the starts, including my batting.
The first 14 overs really hurt us, even 10-15 runs more would have helped. Towards the fag-end of the tournament, the wickets are going to get slower. Even in the last game, spinners got the ball to turn and pace-off and slower balls were working.”
WPL 2023: Here is how Twitterati reacted to the defeat of RCB
“At least win one match please”- Twitter reacts as RCB’s search for first point continue after losing last over thriller vs Delhi Capitalshttps://t.co/zEA0ALEL9B#rcbvsdc #dcvsrcb #rcb #dc #wpl #wpl2023 #EllysePerry #SmritiMandhana
— Gouri Das (@GouriDa37975221) March 13, 2023
Smriti Mandhana 's wagon wheel in this WPL. #RCBvDC pic.twitter.com/HUqroPh66J
— A (@AppeFizzz) March 13, 2023
i've genuinely never seen smriti struggle this much for this long
— smriti mandhana defence attorney (@rushdalchawal) March 13, 2023
No win till now 💔#DCvRCB #EllysePerry #SmritiMandhana pic.twitter.com/ctETrVrP8J
— Prachhi Sabita Mishra (@PrachhiM) March 13, 2023
Most Consecutive Losses 🫣 in the inaugural Edition of
— Cric Chef 🇮🇳 (@cricchef) March 13, 2023
IPL in 2008
Deccan Chargers: 7
WPL in 2023
RCB: 5*#WPL2023 #RCBW #SmritiMandhana #EllysePerry
😂💔#DCvRCB #WPL2023 #SmritiMandhana #EllysePerry pic.twitter.com/xr8a6TUiRs
— Aʙɪシ︎ (@Abishavirat_) March 13, 2023
☆ 5th March : RCB Played Their 1st Match in WPL 2023 .
— Junaid Khan (@JunaidKhanation) March 13, 2023
☆ 13th March : RCB is 1st Team To Get Eliminated From WPL 2023 . pic.twitter.com/I8s55Dpvtd
Chin up Queen 👑👑👑..#WPL2023 #SmritiMandhana #RCBWvsDCW pic.twitter.com/UZM1AjRItT
— DoNothing (@DoNothing02) March 13, 2023
RCB is now the table toppers. #Wpl2023 pic.twitter.com/lfKVrifo2Z
— Prince Pandey (@princepandey_) March 13, 2023
#RCBvDC #WPL2023 #TATAIPL2023 pic.twitter.com/4zdaW9k2FI
— Ak (@Arun_CISO) March 13, 2023
My god something is wrong with RCB's very destiny 🗿#WPL2023 #RCBW
— Atharva Jibhakate (@i_am_atharva18) March 13, 2023
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