Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 23 (ANI): Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim expressed his thoughts on the 2024 champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) impressive run in the Women's Premier League (WPL), which saw them be the first to secure the playoffs spot with five wins in a row despite the absence of star Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry.

Saba was speaking to the media during the 'Media Day' organised during the ongoing WPL by JioStar. Perry, the 2024 season's 'Player of the Tournament' with 347 runs and seven wickets, had set off panic alarms for the Red and Gold franchise by withdrawing from the season due to personal reasons. Indian all-rounder Sayali Sathghare was announced as her replacement and has impressed with the ball so far.

Speaking during the interaction, Saba was asked if he was surprised by RCB's performances despite Perry's absence, and he feels that the introduction of Nadine de Klerk as an all-rounder has made up for Perry's absence.

'Not surprised, but I am pleased that they have been able to fill the huge void left by Perry. I think it is because of the introduction of Nadine de Klerk that they have been able to do so (deliver fine performances). Because Klerk is a lower middle-order batter and delivers her four overs as well with the ball, RCB have been able to rework their strategy.'

'And so you see Smriti Mandana and Grace Harris at the top, and they have brought in Gautami Naik now to fill in that crucial number three, number four slot. Then they have Georgia Voll, who came in the last two games at number three. So, somehow, they have been able to cushion the loss of Elise Perry to a large extent. And I think that is why RCB are right on top at this stage,' he added.

Nadine has been sensational for RCB, with 10 wickets in five matches at an average of 13.20 and 93 runs in three matches at an average of 93.00, with a half-century and strike rate of 150.00. She has managed scores of 63*, 26 and 4* so far, starting off RCB's campaign with a match-winning combo of four-wicket haul and a fifty against defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), helping them chase down 155 runs.

In the match against UP Warriorz, Nadine and Shreyanka Patil bowled two-wicket spells to restrict their opponents to 143/5, before Grace Harris dismantled UPW with a hitting masterclass, scoring 85 off 40 balls with eight fours and five sixes to give RCB a nine-wicket win.

During the third match against the Gujarat Giants, after RCB collapsed to 43/4, they found their heroes in the middle order as Radha Yadav (66 in 47 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and Richa Ghosh (44 in 28 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) scored useful runs to guide RCB to 182/7, and later a sensational five-wicket haul from Shreyanka ripped apart GT's batting, bundling them out for 150 runs.

In their fourth clash against Delhi Capitals, Lauren Bell and Sayali delivered sensational three-wicket spells to bundle out DC for 166 in 20 overs, before a 61-ball 96 by skipper Smriti Mandhana, with 13 fours and three sixes, and a 42-ball 54* by Voll, with five fours and two sixes, guided RCB to an easy eight-wicket win.

In their previous clash against the Gujarat Giants, Gautami played a crucial 55-ball 73, taking RCB from 69/3 to 178/6, before an incredible spell from Sayali (3/21 in four overs), restricting GG to 117/8 in 20 overs.

It has been a different hero every match for RCB, be it skipper Smriti, all-rounder Nadine, Lauren, who has been sensational so far with nine wickets at an average of 12.00 and a stingy economy rate of 5.40, spinner Shreyanka or Grace. The effort has been a collective one rather than a reliance on just one or two players. Their next clash is against DC tomorrow at Vadodara. (ANI)