When the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season began, the narrative around Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was harsh and almost dismissive. Ellyse Perry was no longer part of the squad, and with her exit went the comforting belief that RCB would always have a world-class safety net. Many wondered how this team would survive pressure moments, let alone dominate a season. What followed over the next few weeks was RCB’s most complete and convincing campaign yet — one that has now carried them into the WPL 2026 final.
RCB sealed their final berth with a commanding eight-wicket win over UP Warriorz in Vadodara, chasing down 144 in just 13.1 overs. The match was emblematic of their season; ruthless, fearless, and driven by multiple match-winners. UP were restricted to 143/8, despite resistance from Deepti Sharma and Meg Lanning, largely due to Nadine de Klerk’s outstanding 4 for 22, her best figures of the season. With the chase, Grace Harris smashed 75 off 37 balls, while Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 54 off 27, as the opening pair stitched together a decisive 108-run stand that ended the contest early.
Yet RCB’s season has been far more than this single performance. From the very opening match, they announced themselves as serious contenders. In a thrilling opener against Mumbai Indians Women, Nadine de Klerk produced a match-winning all-round effort, combining crucial wickets with an unbeaten 63 in a last-over chase that set the tone for the campaign. That victory was only the start of a remarkable sequence
Buoyed by early success, RCB then strung together an impressive five-match winning streak to cement their position at the top of the points table. One of the most memorable of those wins came against Gujarat Giants, where Radha Yadav scored a brilliant 66 off 47 balls — her maiden WPL fifty, and put together a vital 105-run partnership with Richa Ghosh to steady a shaky start. Spinner Shreyanka Patil then ran through the Giants’ lineup with a stunning 5/23, highlighting the balance and depth of RCB’s bowling attack.
That match typified RCB’s season: early struggles, critical partnerships, and incisive bowling. Their ability to absorb pressure and then assert themselves became a recurring theme. Later in the streak, Gautami Naik’s 73 off 55 against Gujarat Giants showcased another key contributor, while bowlers like Lauren Bell and Sayali Satghare regularly provided breakthroughs and control. In RCB’s 61-run win in Match 12, Satghare took 3/21, while Lauren and Radha chipped in with vital overs, illustrating how contributions came from all corners of the side.
However, even a dominant looking campaign had its bumps. After five straight wins, RCB were handed a reality check in back-to-back losses. In one dramatic contest, Nat Sciver-Brunt became the first player in WPL history to score a century, blasting Mumbai Indians to 199/4 and leaving RCB’s chase falling short despite a breathtaking 90 off 50 from Richa Ghosh. That innings from Richa, featuring a flurry of boundaries and sixes, was one of the season’s standout personal performances and demonstrated her ability to single-handedly shift momentum even in defeat.
Another setback came against Delhi Capitals Women, where RCB were bundled out for a modest total and lost by seven wickets. Those losses briefly halted their momentum, but the mark of a champion side is not how it avoids adversity, it’s how it responds to it. And RCB did respond.
In their match against UP Warriorz, they produced one of their most complete performances of the season, a seamless blend of explosive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding. De Klerk’s return of 4/22 was a season highlight, making her RCB’s highest wicket-taker in a single WPL campaign and showcasing her enduring impact with the ball.
As RCB look ahead to the final, they do so with confidence borne of a campaign filled with big innings, milestone bowling feats, and key partnerships that carried them through tough contests. Their season has been a testament to depth, experience, and adaptability — a combination that positions them as formidable contenders for the WPL 2026 title.
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