As the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) shifts into high gear, Match 16 brings us high stakes encounter at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara between two of the tournament’s most popular sides. Looking at the current standings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been the team to beat, sitting comfortably at the top of the table with 10 points after winning 5 of their 6 matches. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians find themselves in a bit of a scrap in the middle of the pack, currently in fourth place with 4 points from their 6 outings.
Squads:
Mumbai Indians Women’s Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Nicola Carey, Sanskriti Gupta, Milly Illingworth, Saika Ishaque, Shabnim Ismail, Gunalan Kamalini, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Poonam Khemnar, Kranthi Reddy, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver Brunt, Rahila Firdous, Sajeevan Sajana, Triveni Vasistha
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s Cricket Team
Smriti Mandhana (C), Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh, Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Shreyanka Patil, Kumari Prathyusha, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Linsey Smith, Pooja Vastrakar, Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav
Players to watch out:
Smriti Mandhana
The RCB skipper has been leading from the front, currently sitting as one of the top contenders for the Orange Cap with 230 runs in 6 matches. Her standout moment so far was a brilliant 96, the highest individual score of the season, which anchored Bengaluru’s dominant run of five consecutive wins. Mandhana’s aggressive intent is clear in her numbers, having already smashed 30 boundaries to keep her team at the top of the table.
Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur has been the backbone of Mumbai Indians’ middle order, amassing 240 runs across 6 innings with an impressive average of 60.00. She recently made history by becoming the first Indian player to reach 1,000 career runs in the WPL, a feat she celebrated with a match-winning 74* against Delhi Capitals. Her ability to finish games remains unmatched, as she has already notched up two half-centuries and remains a primary threat to any bowling attack.
Nadine de Klerk
Nadine de Klerk has emerged as the ultimate X-factor for RCB this year, topping the bowling charts with 10 wickets and boasting an incredible batting average of 93.00. She stole the show in the season opener, taking 4/26 with the ball before smashing an unbeaten 63 off 44 balls to pull off a last-over heist. Her versatility has given RCB the perfect balance, making her one of the most impactful all-rounders in the tournament so far.
Amelie Kerr
Amelia Kerr continues to be a record-breaker, recently becoming the first bowler in WPL history to scalp 50 wickets. In the current 2026 season, she has already picked up 10 wickets in 5 matches with the best of 3/24, keeping her firmly in the Purple Cap race. While she had a quiet start with the bat, she recently found her rhythm with a sharp 49* against UP Warriorz, proving why she remains one of the world’s premier T20 cricketers.
Pitch:
The pitch at the Kotambi Stadium is known to be a balanced surface that offers a true bounce, favoring batters who can play their shots with confidence. However, as the game progresses, spinners often find some assistance in the middle overs, while the evening dew can make the ball slippery for bowlers in the second innings.
Weather:
The forecast predicts clear and pleasant conditions with a daytime high of 31°C, dropping to a cool 17°C during the night. Humidity is expected to rise in the evening, increasing the likelihood of significant dew that typically makes chasing the preferred option for the team winning the toss.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Harmanpreet Kaur, Nicola Carey, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Smriti Mandhana, Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh, Grace Harris, Shreyanka Patil
Match Details:
Date – January 26, 2025
Time – 7:30 PM
Venue – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
Broadcast – Telecast on Star Sports Network | Streaming on Jio Hotstar (India)
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