In Match 5 of the WPL 2026, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be taking on the UP Warriorz at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. RCB had a close encounter the other night against the Mumbai Indians, as Nadine de Klerk powered the side to victory by chasing down 18 off the last 4 deliveries. There’s still plenty to figure out for the side, as the batting looked fragile and relatively thin even though it wasn’t a massive total. RCB will need more from Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana at the top if they want to qualify for the playoffs. Smriti and co will be looking to assert their dominance in this tournament as they have already defeated the defending champions. Now, if RCB can generate some momentum in the upcoming fixtures, RCB could make a strong case for itself to finish at the top. Here are the top 3 players to look out for against the UP Warriorz:
3) Lauren Bell
Lauren Bell, the English right-arm pace bowler, has been sensational in recent years and was bagged by RCB in the 2026 WPL auction. In her T20I career, she has picked up 50 wickets from 36 innings, at an economy of 7. Bell made her WPL debut in the inaugural match against the Mumbai Indians, and she just stunned the defending champions in the powerplay. Lauren Bell had bowled 19 dot balls in her spell, including a maiden and the wicket of Amelia Kerr. Lauren Bell could be one of the best bowlers in the tournament if she can continue her run.
2) Grace Harris
Grace Harris, the Australian right-handed batter, is a T20I great, and her dominance in franchise cricket is also widely known. In her T20I career, she has scored 577 runs from 35 innings at a strike rate of 155. Grace has scored 606 runs from 23 innings, including 3 half-centuries. She has also been quite good with the bowl, as she has picked up 13 wickets at an economy of 7. In the opening match, Grace Harris fired a quickfire 25 off just 12 balls, setting the tone for the innings. Grace Harris could be a very valuable asset with her power-hitting abilities and wicket-taking bowling.
1)Nadine de Klerk
Nadine de Klerk, the South African all-rounder, had been in tremendous international form coming into the WPL 2026. In her T20I career, she has scored 667 runs from 50 innings, at a strike rate of 107, and she has also picked up 52 wickets at an economy of 7. Moving into the game against the Mumbai Indians, Nadine de Klerk had only played one WPL match prior. She won the player of the match award as she scored 63 runs and picked up 4 wickets in the match. Nadine de Klerk is an absolute match-winner, and RCB will be banking their hopes on her with both bat and ball.
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