Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana made her much-anticipated debut for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025, stepping onto the field against the UP Warriorz at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on February 24, 2025. Her inclusion came as part of RCB's strategic adjustments, replacing the young talent Joshitha VJ, who had struggled during the tournament.
Rana's entry was not just about filling the gaps; it symbolized her second chance after facing setbacks earlier in her career. Remarkably, she was overlooked during the December 2024 auction but was later brought on board as a replacement for the injured Shreyanka Patil. The franchise secured her services for INR 30 lakhs, hoping to leverage her experience as they aimed to defend their WPL title.
Before this match, RCB was coming off a narrow loss to the Mumbai Indians, and the stakes were high. The match against UP Warriors presented RCB with a golden opportunity to build some momentum, especially since the Warriorz were fourth on the table, eagerly seeking to improve their position.
Interestingly, the Warriorz won the toss and elected to bowl first. Deepti Sharma, the Warriorz captain, explained her decision, stating, “We are going to bowl first. The ball moves in the power-play. We have the same mindset as the last game. The toss doesn't matter much to me. The way we play our cricket matters more than anything else.”
On the other side, RCB's captain, Smriti Mandhana, acknowledged the toss decision as not significantly impactful: “We would have loved to field first... but the dew isn’t much of a factor here at Chinnaswamy. We have figured out a few things, and need to apply them in this match. We have one change, Rana coming in, and Perry is available to bowl.”
Sneh Rana made her mark during her debut season. She was featured prominently as the captain of Gujarat Giants during WPL 2023, representing her skills on the big stage, even if the season was challenging. This marked her chance to refresh her narrative, following disappointing campaigns where she went wicketless during the next season. Rana's cricketing resume is impressive; she was named the first Indian woman spinner to take ten wickets in Test matches. Affected by injuries and inconsistent performance, she is now eager to re-establish herself.
Despite her ups and downs, Rana holds significant prowess both with bat and ball. Her earlier performances caught the eye, especially during the initial WPL matches where she exhibited her bowling capabilities. With the highest wicket-taker from the last season, Shreyanka Patil absent, Rana’s role becomes even more pivotal for RCB's bowling plans.
The match setting was tense, as RCB needed to deliver after experiencing back-to-back wins earlier and hoped to reclaim their winning form against UP Warriorz, who had just registered their first victory of the season against Delhi Capitals. Also notable was Ellyse Perry's readiness to contribute more to the bowling facet, augmenting RCB’s options on the field.
Fans and cricket pundits were eager to witness Rana’s performance and whether this debut would turn the tide of her career. A potent mix of experience, skill, and determination, Rana aims to find success and possibly reclaim her spot on the national team, something she hasn’t been a part of lately.
The match was emblematic of the larger story of resilience and opportunity within sports. Sneh Rana's debut for RCB at this pivotal moment could not only influence her career but also showcase her ability to rise above past disappointments as she steps onto the battleground once more. All eyes were on Rana, hoping to witness the emergence of another inspiring comeback as the WPL 2025 continues.