WPL 2026: The Women’s Premier League 2026 (WPL 2026) began in thrilling fashion as defending champions Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) took on Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) in the tournament opener at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.
Packed stands, a lively pitch, and a tense chase ensured fans were treated to a high-quality contest right from the first ball.
In the end, it was RCB Women who held their nerve, clinching a dramatic three-wicket win and starting their WPL 2026 campaign on a high.
Toss Talk: What the Captains Said
After winning the toss, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana opted to bowl first, citing the impact of dew later in the evening.
“Dew plays a big role at this venue, especially in the second innings. We want to bowl disciplined lines early and restrict them. The team environment has been excellent and we’re really excited to start the season,” Mandhana said.
MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur admitted she would have preferred to bowl as well but backed her side’s balance.
“We’ve had a solid 10 days of preparation. Unfortunately, Hayley Matthews isn’t playing today, but the squad is well-balanced and confident,” Harmanpreet noted.
Match Summary: MIW vs RCBW, 1st Match
- Match: Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
- Tournament: Women’s Premier League 2026
- Date: January 9, 2026
- Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
- Toss: RCBW won the toss, elected to field
- Result: RCB Women won by 3 wickets
- Player of the Match: Nadine de Klerk
Lauren Bell bowled the first over of WPL 2026, officially kickstarting the new season.
First Innings: Mumbai Indians Women – 154/6 (20 overs)
Batting first, Mumbai Indians Women posted a competitive 154 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs, though the innings had its ups and downs.
MI struggled early as wickets fell in the powerplay. Amelia Kerr found it tough going, managing just 4 runs off 15 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with 20. The momentum shifted in the middle overs thanks to a counter-attacking knock from Sajeevan Sajana, who smashed 45 runs off just 25 balls at a strike rate of 180, including seven fours and a six.
Support came from Nicola Carey (40) and wicketkeeper G Kamalini (32), whose crucial contributions helped MI reach a respectable total after early setbacks.
For RCB, Nadine de Klerk delivered a standout bowling performance, picking up four wickets and keeping the scoring in check during key phases.
Second Innings: RCB Women Chase Down 155 in a Thriller
Chasing 155, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women got off to a brisk start with Grace Harris scoring a quick 25 off 12 balls. However, a cluster of wickets in the middle overs pushed RCB into trouble and brought MI back into the game.
That’s when Nadine de Klerk rose to the occasion with a match-defining innings. Showing composure and power, she remained unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls, striking seven boundaries and two sixes to anchor the chase.
With the pressure mounting in the final over, Prema Rawat provided the finishing touch, scoring an unbeaten 8 off 4 balls to seal victory on the last ball of the match.
Despite efforts from Amelia Kerr and Nicola Carey, who picked up two wickets each, MI couldn’t stop de Klerk’s all-round brilliance.
Nadine de Klerk delivered one of the finest all-round performances of the season opener:
- Bowling: 4 wickets
- Batting: 63* off 44 balls
Her ability to influence the game in both innings proved decisive, earning her a well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians Women: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajeevan Sajana, Saika Ishaque
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women: Smriti Mandhana (c), Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
WPL 2026 Points Table (After 1st Match)
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.150 |
| 2 | Gujarat Giants Women | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 3 | UP Warriorz Women | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 4 | Delhi Capitals Women | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 5 | Mumbai Indians Women | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.150 |
What’s Next?
RCB Women will take massive confidence from this nerve-wracking win, while MI Women will look to bounce back quickly by addressing their powerplay batting concerns. With WPL 2026 off to such a dramatic start, fans can expect many more unforgettable moments in the days to come.