• Renuka Thakur provided the perfect breakthrough for RCB in WPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Titans.

  • Renuka cleaned up the opener Laura Wolvaardt with a stunning deliver.

WATCH: Renuka Thakur starts WPL 2025 by shattering Laura Wolvaardt’s stumps with a brilliant delivery
Renuka Thakur (Image Source: X)

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Renuka Thakur provided the perfect breakthrough for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 opener against Gujarat Giants (GT), cleaning up Laura Wolvaardt with a stunning delivery.

Renuka Thakur dismantles Laura Wolvaardt with a sharp in-swinger

Bowling from over the wicket, Renuka pitched the ball just outside off-stump, generating sharp inward movement off the surface. Wolvaardt, attempting an across-the-line heave without proper footwork, completely misjudged the swing. The ball zipped past her bat, crashing into the middle and off stump, leaving the batter with no chance of recovery.

The delivery was a textbook example of late movement, exploiting the batter’s lack of precise foot placement. Wolvaardt, who struggled to find fluency, managed only six runs off ten balls before Renuka’s brilliance ended her stay at the crease. The impact was immediate, as Gujarat Giants lost their first wicket at 35, giving RCB an early opening.

Renuka’s execution was flawless – she maintained a good length, allowing the ball to deviate off the pitch rather than giving Wolvaardt room to adjust. The lack of intent in Wolvaardt’s shot selection only amplified the effectiveness of the delivery, exposing her stumps completely.

This wicket set the tone for RCB’s bowling unit, as Renuka precisely led the attack. Her spell so far – overs for 21 runs with a wicket – highlighted her ability to extract movement and trouble batters early on. For Gujarat, losing Wolvaardt cheaply was a setback, forcing their middle order to rebuild after the early jolt.

Here’s the video:

Also READ: WPL 2025 Opening Ceremony: Date, Time, Performers and Live Streaming details

RCB bowlers puts Gujarat Giants at backfoot in the WPL 2025 opener

RCB made a steady start with the ball after opting to field first in the WPL 2025 opener at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara. Gujarat, led by Beth Mooney, managed 53/2 in nine overs, struggling to gain momentum against a disciplined RCB attack. Renuka provided the first breakthrough, cleaning up Laura Wolvaardt for 6 with a sharp in-swinger in the fifth over. Kanika Ahuja then added to RCB’s success by dismissing Dayalan Hemalatha for 4, caught by Prema Rawat at mid-wicket.

Mooney remained the anchor, scoring 35 not out so far off 31 balls, striking four boundaries while maintaining a measured approach. Ashleigh Gardner, the captain, joined her at the crease but found it tough to accelerate. The scoring rate hovered around 5.88 as RCB’s bowlers maintained tight lines. Renuka (1/21) and Ahuja (1/7) were the standout performers, while VJ Joshitha and Kim Garth kept things tight. With Gujarat at 53/2 by the ninth over, they will need a strong push in the second half to reach a competitive total.

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli’s special message to Smriti Mandhana’s RCB ahead of WPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Giants

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

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