The fourth season of the Women’s Premier League began on Friday, January 9, with Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on Mumbai Indians at the DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai. RCB clinched a thrilling three wicket win to open their WPL 2026 campaign on a high.
Mumbai Indians Post Competitive Total
Mumbai Indians batted first after losing the toss and scored 154 for 6 in 20 overs. G Kamalini anchored the innings with 32 runs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with a steady 20.
Late Surge Boosts Mumbai Score
The scoring rate improved in the final overs through Nicole Carey and Sajeevana Sajna. Carey struck 40 runs, while Sajna added an aggressive 45. Their partnership pushed Mumbai to a challenging total.
Nadine Leads RCB Bowling Effort
RCB all rounder Nadine de Klerk delivered a match turning spell with the ball. She claimed four crucial wickets and restricted Mumbai at key moments. Lauren Bell and Shreyanka Patil supported well with one wicket each.
RCB Chase Keeps Fans Guessing
Chasing 155, RCB lost wickets at regular intervals and struggled to maintain momentum. Grace Harris scored 25 runs, while skipper Smriti Mandhana added 18. The match remained evenly balanced heading into the final over.
Dramatic Finish Seals RCB Victory
RCB needed 18 runs from the last six balls. Nadine de Klerk took charge and attacked Nat Seward Brunt. She struck two fours and two sixes off the final deliveries to seal a tense win.
Nadine Shines in All Round Role
Nadine de Klerk remained unbeaten on 63 from 44 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. Her all round performance powered Royal Challengers Bangalore to a hard fought opening win in WPL 2026.
