WPL 2025: RCB fans roar at Chinnaswamy; MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur tries to block out thunderous cheers
Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her relief, admitting that while her team focused on playing solid cricket, they were well aware of the challenge posed by the passionate home crowd at Chinnaswamy.
Welcome to Chinnaswamy Stadium! That¨s what fans have been saying across social media platforms as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans share viral clips from the game against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025. With both teams having previously lifted the trophy, it was no surprise that the match went down to the wire.
On Friday (February 21), Harmanpreet Kaur's MI witnessed the true power of RCB ！ not just from the team, but from the crowd. The atmosphere was so thunderous that Harmanpreet had to cover her ears in an attempt to block out the deafening noise.
Chants for RCB!
At the start of the 14th over of RCB's innings, Harmanpreet was fielding at long-on when the crowd at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted. The noise levels were so intense that she was seen putting her fingers in her ears, trying to shield herself from the roaring chants. As the away captain, she found herself at the receiving end of the home crowd's fierce support.
While MI fans didn't hold back from scrutinizing the fans reaction, it also drew comparisons to a similar situation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when Hardik Pandya faced backlash from his own team's supporters after taking over the captaincy.
Many shared videos on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing the crowd roaring "RCB, RCB" ！ not just during key moments of the game but right from the start, including the toss.
Avg RCB match in Chinnaswamy ? pic.twitter.com/3HzjAuvJB7
！ Shaurya (@Kohli_Dewotee) February 21, 2025
Welcome to chinnaswamy harmanpreet ?? pic.twitter.com/CHDulaYdMX
！ Kevin (@imkevin149) February 21, 2025
About RCB vs MI
Bengaluru, batting first, put up a competitive total on the board. They got off to a blistering start, with the openers adding 29 runs within the first three overs. At 47/1 after 4.4 overs, RCB seemed in control, but a sudden batting collapse saw them lose three quick wickets, slipping to 57/3 by the 7.2-over mark.
Richa Ghosh and Ellyse Perry then anchored the innings with a crucial 50-run partnership. Perry top-scored for Bengaluru, while Richa and skipper Smriti Mandhana chipped in with valuable runs. On the bowling front, Amanjot Kaur shone for Mumbai, claiming three wickets.
Sharing your last-over #TATAWPL experience ?#RCBvMI | @mipaltan | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/ql0ft0dMf4
！ Women's Premier League (WPL) (@wplt20) February 21, 2025
Chasing 167, Mumbai got off to a flying start, racing to 66/2 in the powerplay. Natalie Sciver-Brunt looked dangerous, but her dismissal after the break left MI in a tricky situation. It was then that Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur took charge, building a vital 62-run partnership to steady the chase.
The game's turning point came in the 19th over when Amanjot smashed Kanika Ahuja for 16 runs, all but sealing the win. The MI skipper too smashed a half-century.
Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her relief, admitting that while her team focused on playing solid cricket, they were well aware of the challenge posed by the passionate home crowd at Chinnaswamy.
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Karen Noronha is a versatile journalist with a passion for sports and K-pop. With over 7 years of experience at publications like IBTimes UK, DNA, and OTTPlay/DesiMartini, she seamlessly transitions between covering global athletic events and the dynamic world of K-pop.
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