RCB's Kanika pleased with comeback, role of a finisher

The Women's Premier League (WPL) got a blockbuster opening on Friday with Royal Challengers Bengaluru chasing down a mammoth target of 202 against Gujarat Giants in Vadodara.

- Shalini Gupta

CHANDIGARH: The Women's Premier League (WPL) got a blockbuster opening on Friday with Royal Challengers Bengaluru chasing down a mammoth target of 202 against Gujarat Giants in Vadodara.

GG's Ashleigh Gardner (79 off 37), Beth Mooney (56 off 42) and Deandra Dottin (25 off 13) first up and Ellyse Perry (57 off 34) then logged the limelight. Richa Ghosh (64* off 27) and left-handed Kanika Ahuja (30* off 13) then lit up the chase with an unbeaten 93-run partnership (off 37 balls) to achieve WPL's highest chase ever. India stumper Ghosh's power-packed hitting led the way, but the contribution of Ahuja, 22, who made her India debut in the 2023 Asian Games, was also about resilience.

Ahuja missed the 2024 WPL because of a back injury. Following a successful domestic season playing for Punjab, notching up two centuries in the one-day tournament, she is back in the RCB camp doing what she is best at - finishing matches.