Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja Share Insights on Historic Chase Against GG

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) witnessed an electrifying match as Smriti Mandhana’s side put up a champion-like performance to spoil Gujarat Giants’ home debut at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Despite an inspiring innings from their new skipper, Ashleigh Gardner, the Giants fell short as Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja orchestrated a stunning run chase to secure a six-wicket victory.

Gujarat Giants’ Home Debut Under New Leadership

The Gujarat Giants stepped onto the field at the Kotambi Stadium with high hopes, making their home debut under newly appointed skipper Ashleigh Gardner. Gardner did not disappoint, delivering a captain’s innings of sheer dominance. She smashed an unbeaten 79 off just 37 balls, displaying a mix of power-hitting and smart shot selection. Her ability to find the gaps and clear the ropes at will made it evident why she was handed the captaincy.

Supporting her skipper, wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney played a composed yet aggressive knock, bringing up a crafty half-century. Her ability to anchor the innings while keeping the scoreboard ticking helped the Giants post a formidable total.

Gujarat Giants Set a Challenging Target of 202

With Gardner and Mooney at the helm, Gujarat Giants registered their joint-highest total in WPL history—201/5 in their allotted 20 overs. It was a total that seemed daunting for the chasing side, especially considering the pressure of a high-stakes encounter.

Despite the challenging pitch conditions, Smriti Mandhana won the toss and opted to bowl first. This decision, at first, appeared risky, given the total the Giants eventually put up. However, Mandhana’s confidence in her batting unit proved to be a masterstroke.

In response to the massive target, Ellyse Perry played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings. Scoring a solid 57 off 34 balls, Perry kept her side in the hunt even as wickets fell around her. Her experience and composure under pressure were instrumental in keeping the chase alive.

Richa Ghosh’s Game-Changing Performance

When Perry departed, the pressure was immense. But this is where Richa Ghosh took center stage. The young wicketkeeper-batter played an aggressive yet calculated innings, punishing the Giants for their lapses in the field. She capitalized on every scoring opportunity and ensured her team stayed in contention.

Kanika Ahuja’s Explosive Cameo – Turning the Game Around

Kanika Ahuja’s quickfire 30* off just 13 balls was the turning point of the match. Her fearless stroke play and ability to find boundaries at crucial moments shifted the momentum firmly in favor of Mandhana’s side. With the visitors needing 89 runs in the last seven overs, Richa Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja stitched together a match-winning 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket. This stand not only steadied the innings but also made the chase look effortless towards the end.

Ghosh’s Thoughts on the Pressure Chase

After the game, Richa Ghosh shed light on the conversations she had with Kanika during their partnership.

Richa said, “When both of us were in the middle, we were talking about how to take the game deep, how many runs were required, we were a bit under pressure in the middle, but we didn’t let the pressure get to us. Kanika (Ahuja) provided brilliant support from the other end with the kind of attacking shots she played, to get the momentum in our favour. I feel Kanika’s knock was also very crucial, with the way she scored those boundaries and rotated the strike, which was very important considering the game situation at that point in time,”

Kanika Ahuja’s Admiration for Richa Ghosh

Kanika Ahuja, who played a vital supporting role, praised Richa Ghosh, calling her a “legend” for the way she generates power while batting.

Kanika stated, “Richa is just unbelievable, whenever she plays in practice, I keep watching her, admiring her and how she’s generating power, for me she’s a legend. I knew until Richa was there at the crease, that we could easily win the game, and she also trusted me a lot.”

Kanika’s Bhangra Celebration – A Pure Punjabi Moment

Kanika’s celebration after the victory caught everyone’s attention. She performed an energetic bhangra dance, a move she had pre-planned. “I had been thinking that if I got an over, I would celebrate like this. That dance was pure Punjabi,” she said with a big smile.

After this emphatic victory, Smriti Mandhana and her team will next face Delhi Capitals, led by Meg Lanning. The match is set to take place at the Kotambi Stadium on February 17, 2025, at 7:30 PM IST. Fans can expect another thrilling contest as two top teams go head-to-head.

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