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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have received a significant setback ahead of the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 as key spinner Sophie Molineux has been ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury.
RCB faces major setback with Sophie Molineux injury
Molineux, part of Australian cricket team, picked up this injury during the series against India, making her recovery unlikely in time for the season. Her absence comes as a major blow for the defending champions, who heavily relied on her all-round contributions last year.
Molineux was pivotal to RCB’s success in WPL 2024, where she played a crucial role in guiding the team to their first-ever title. In the previous edition, she took 12 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 7.31, showcasing both her bowling skill and composure in high-pressure situations. Her ability to turn games around with her accurate left-arm spin, combined with her handy contributions with the bat lower down the order, made her an indispensable part of RCB’s squad. Her performances were key to RCB’s title-winning journey, and without her this season, the franchise will undoubtedly miss her experience and match-winning ability.
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Replacement announced for Molineux
To fill the void left by Molineux, RCB has made a smart move by signing England all-rounder Charlotte Dean as her replacement. Dean, with vast international experience, comes in with a solid track record of consistent performances across all formats. She has played 36 T20 Internationals, 3 Tests, and 39 ODIs for England, and boasts 46 wickets in T20Is at an economy rate of 6.91.
Alongside her impressive bowling record, Dean is also a handy lower-order batter capable of scoring crucial runs when needed. Her ability to contribute on both fronts makes her an ideal replacement, though she’ll have big shoes to fill in Molineux’s absence. Currently, Dean is playing in the Ashes series for England Women and is expected to be fully available for the entirety of the WPL 2025 season.
Her arrival adds depth to RCB’s squad and brings in much-needed experience, especially in the spin department. Dean’s addition offers the defending champions a balanced attack, with the ability to match Molineux’s versatility, though replicating her impact on the field will be a challenge. As RCB gears up to defend their title, Dean’s arrival provides them with a fresh boost, but the franchise will undoubtedly feel the absence of Molineux’s significant contribution this season.
🔊 OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 🔊
Our champion all-rounder Sophie Molineux has unfortunately been ruled out of #WPL2025 due to a knee injury, and England all-rounder 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐧 has been chosen as her replacement.
Welcome to #ನಮ್ಮRCB, Charlie! We can’t… pic.twitter.com/99LrPa1oMl
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 16, 2025
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
