• RCB will begin their title defense against Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2025 opener at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara.

  • RCB legend Virat Kohli shared a special message of encouragement for Smriti Mandhana and her squad.

WATCH: Virat Kohli’s special message to Smriti Mandhana’s RCB ahead of WPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Giants
Virat Kohli and RCB (Image Source: X)

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As the highly anticipated Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 gets underway, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are gearing up to begin their title defense against Gujarat Giants (GG) in the tournament opener at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara on February 14. With the team looking to carry forward their championship-winning momentum, they received a special message of encouragement from RCB legend Virat Kohli, who shared his best wishes for Smriti Mandhana and her squad ahead of the new season.

Virat Kohli’s inspiring message to RCB ahead of WPL 2025 

Ahead of their season opener, RCB were treated to a motivating message from Kohli, one of the biggest icons in Indian cricket and a long-time leader of the RCB franchise in the IPL. In a video shared by RCB on social media, Kohli applauded the team’s success in WPL 2024, expressing confidence that they can build on their past achievements and continue to perform at the highest level in the new season.

Kohli acknowledged the team’s incredible journey to their first-ever WPL title and emphasized that winning a championship brings a new level of confidence, which should help them play even more freely this time around. He encouraged the squad to believe in themselves, play with passion, and enjoy the support they receive from fans all over India.

“I would like to wish the women’s team all the very best for the upcoming WPL season. It’s amazing what you did last year, and I just hope that you can continue to ride that momentum and take that confidence into this tournament as well. There is no shortage of talent, as we had seen last year as well. I am sure that with the load of winning the title already off your back, you will go out there, express yourself, and enjoy the support that you get from all over India. So, I wish you all the very best for the upcoming season,” Kohli said.

Here’s the video:

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

WPL 2025: Tournament overview and RCB’s road ahead

The WPL 2025 season will be played across four key venues, each hosting different phases of the tournament. The first six matches of the tournament, including the season opener between RCB and Gujarat, will be held in Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, marking the first time the city is hosting WPL matches.

The tournament will then shift to Bengaluru, where RCB will play their first home game against Mumbai Indians (MI) on February 21 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. This will be followed by the introduction of Lucknow as a new host city, where UP Warriorz will play their home matches starting from March 3, expanding the reach of WPL to northern India. Finally, the last stage of the tournament, including the two final league matches and the playoffs, will be hosted at the Cricket Club of India in Mumbai, with the highly anticipated Final scheduled for March 15.

Key players to watch out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB will once again rely on the leadership of Mandhana, who played a pivotal role in their championship-winning campaign last season. Mandhana’s captaincy and batting form will be crucial in setting the tone for RCB’s performances this year. Alongside her, the experienced all-rounder Ellyse Perry will be a key asset, bringing balance to the squad with her contributions in both batting and bowling.

In the bowling department, Renuka Singh, India’s premier pace bowler, will be responsible for providing crucial breakthroughs with the new ball, while young wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh will be expected to continue her aggressive style of play and finish matches in RCB’s favour. Shreyanka Patil, a rising star in the spin department, will add variety to the bowling attack and will be a key player to watch.

Also READ: Women’s Premier League 2025: Here’s how to buy tickets for WPL matches

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

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