By Zainab Shafiq 
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 is set to commence with an exciting opening match between the Gujarat Giants and the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, on Friday, February 14, at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT / 7:00 PM PST).
WPL 2025 Match 1 Details:
- Teams: Gujarat Giants vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Date: Friday, February 14, 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM IST (2:00 PM GMT / 7:00 PM PST)
- Venue: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
Preview:
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by the dynamic Smriti Mandhana, enter this season with the confidence of their maiden WPL title victory in 2024, where they triumphed over the Delhi Capitals by eight wickets. RCB boasts a powerful lineup featuring international stars like Ellyse Perry and emerging talents such as Richa Ghosh and Shreyanka Patil. Their balanced squad combines experienced campaigners with promising youngsters, making them a formidable opponent.
On the other hand, the Gujarat Giants, captained by the seasoned Beth Mooney, are eager to make a strong impression this season. Despite a challenging campaign in 2024, where they struggled to find consistency, the Giants have retained key players like Ashleigh Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield. Their roster also includes promising domestic talents who will be keen to showcase their skills on the big stage.
The head-to-head record between these two teams is evenly poised, with both teams securing two victories each in their previous encounters. This sets the stage for an exciting contest as both teams aim to gain an early advantage in the tournament.
Pitch and Weather Report:
The pitch at Kotambi Stadium is expected to be batting-friendly, especially in the early stages of the match. As the game progresses, the surface may offer some assistance to spinners due to wear and tear. Therefore, teams might prefer to bat first to capitalize on the favorable batting conditions upfront.
As for the weather, Vadodara is expected to experience warm conditions in the evening, with temperatures ranging from the mid to low 20s Celsius. The skies are anticipated to be clear, with no chance of rain, ensuring an uninterrupted game. Winds will be light, and humidity levels will remain low, providing ideal conditions for cricket.
Predicted Playing XIs for WPL 2025 Match 1:
Gujarat Giants:
- Beth Mooney (c & wk)
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Harleen Deol
- Deandra Dottin
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Ashleigh Gardner
- Simran Shaikh
- Sayali Satghare
- Meghna Singh
- Tanuja Kanwar
- Kashvee Gautam
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge
- Sabbhineni Meghana
- Ellyse Perry
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Raghvi Bist
- Kanika Ahuja
- Georgia Wareham
- Jagravi Pawar
- Kim Garth
- Renuka Singh
Dream11 Fantasy Team Prediction:
Wicketkeeper:
- Beth Mooney
Batters:
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- Laura Wolvaardt
- Harleen Deol
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge
All-rounders:
- Ashleigh Gardner (vc)
- Ellyse Perry
- Deandra Dottin
Bowlers:
- Renuka Singh
- Meghna Singh
- Georgia Wareham
Where to Watch WPL 2025 Match 1 Live?
To make sure you don’t miss any of the action, Viacom18 is the official broadcaster for WPL 2025. Viewers in India can watch it on Viacom18 and Sports18, while JioCinema offers free digital coverage, making it super easy to catch WPL 2025 live from home.
For those watching from other countries:
- Australia: Fox Sports and Kayo Sports
- United States & Canada: Willow TV
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports
- South Africa: Super Sport
- Ireland: Sky Sports