RCB’s Sophie Molineux ruled out of WPL 2025, replacement announced

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) received a great loss ahead of the future Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 as a key spinner Sophie Molineux missed the tournament due to a knee injury.

RCB is facing a big loss due to the injury of Sophie Molineux

Molineux, part of the Australian cricket team, sustained this injury during the series against India, making his recovery unlikely in time for the season. His loss was a great blow for the the defending championswhich is heavily dependent on his overall contribution of the previous year.

Molineux was crucial to RCB’s success in the WPL 2024, where he played a key role in guiding the team to their first ever title. In the previous edition, he took 12 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 7.31, showing his bowling prowess and composure in high-pressure situations. His ability to turn games around with his accurate left-arm spin, coupled with his handy contributions with the bat lower down the order, makes him an indispensable part of RCB’s squad. His performances have been key to RCB’s title-winning journey, and without him this season, the franchise will undoubtedly miss his experience and match-winning ability.

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Announced replacement for Molineux

To fill the void left by Molineux, RCB made a smart move by signing England ALL-ALL Charlotte Dean as his replacement. Dean, who has extensive international experience, has a strong track record of consistent performances across all formats. He 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.

Along with his impressive bowling record, Dean is also a handy lower-order batter capable of scoring crucial runs when needed. His ability to contribute on both fronts makes him an ideal replacement, although he has big shoes to fill in Molineux’s absence. Currently, Dean is playing in the Ashes series for England Women and is expected to be available throughout the WPL 2025 season.

His arrival adds depth to RCB’s squad and brings much-needed experience, especially in the spin department. The addition of Dean offers the defending champions a balanced attack, capable of matching Molineux’s versatility, although replicating his impact on the field will be a challenge. As RCB prepare to defend their title, Dean’s arrival has given them a new boost, but the franchise will undoubtedly feel without a major contribution at Molineux this season.

🔊 OFFICIAL NOTICE 🔊

Our champion all-rounder Sophie Molineux was unfortunately left out #WPL2025 due to a knee injury, and England all-rounder 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧 was chosen as his replacement.

Welcome to #AtongRCBCharlie! We don’t… pic.twitter.com/99LrPa1oMl

– Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 16, 2025

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This article was first published on WomenCricket.coma Cricket season company.