Royal Challengers Bengaluru clashed with Mumbai Indians on February 21, 2025, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, delivering fans yet another thrilling encounter in the Women's Premier League. The match featured standout performances, key wickets, and intense momentum shifts before Mumbai emerged victorious by four wickets.
The game turned pivotal during the 8th over when Kim Garth stunned the crowd by knocking over Nat Sciver-Brunt's stumps with an exquisite delivery. Sciver-Brunt, previously on fire with the bat, had scored 42 runs off just 21 balls and was putting the pressure on RCB's bowlers. Garth's ball zipped through at tremendous pace and caught Sciver-Brunt off guard, dropping the bails and shifting the game's momentum squarely toward the RCB camp.
The crowd erupted with deafening cheers as Garth celebrated her monumental breakthrough, signaling RCB's chance to tighten their grip on the match after Sciver-Brunt's dismissal. Following one of MI’s biggest threats being sent back to the pavilion, RCB had high hopes of pushing their advantage.
Prior to this highlight, RCB had batted first, setting up a respectable total of 167 runs, bolstered by Ellyse Perry's brilliant innings of 81 runs off 43 deliveries. Perry anchored the RCB innings after early wickets fell, bringing stability and aggression to the batting lineup. Smriti Mandhana, the RCB captain, also contributed with 26 runs from just 13 balls, giving the innings the much-needed explosive start before losing her wicket.
Despite losing quick wickets, Perry's dominant performance ensured RCB finished on strong terms, giving MI plenty to chase. The RCB bowlers, especially Garth who finished the game with figures of 2 for 23, kept them on track by taking out significant MI batters.
MI started their chase aggressively but faced early setbacks, finding themselves at 82 for 4 at the halfway mark, highlighting the significant pressure applied by RCB's bowlers.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur worked together to guide MI through its innings after the loss of key players. Kaur eventually scored 50 runs, leading her side through the pressure, as Amanjot Kaur stood strong with 34 not out.
Despite the pressure of needing 54 runs off the last six overs, the Mumbai Indians kept their cool, with Kaur’s strategy and clear communication shining through. She stated post-match, "We wanted to play good cricket and we knew the crowd was going to play a big role, so we wanted to stay together.”
Smriti Mandhana, the RCB skipper reflected on her team’s efforts: "Can’t say one turning point but really proud of the way the girls fought back," she said, recognizing the challenging moments of their innings.
The match reached its conclusion with MI successfully surpassing RCB’s target, bringing the crowd to its feet as Kamilini starred as the last-minute hero. The strategic influence of Amanjot Kaur proved invaluable as she held her end against the RCB bowlers to steer MI to victory, capping off what was deemed another spectacular day at Chinnaswamy.
Putting the contest on full display, the match solidified the high stakes and vibrant atmosphere of the WPL 2025 season. It underscored the unpredictable yet exhilarating nature of women’s T20 cricket, showing just how quickly the tide can turn and bringing fans back for more.