The 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off today, and it’s the Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The WPL stars, Smriti Mandhana, Shreyanka Patil, and Jemimah Rodrigues were spotted in the Stadium, cheering for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
This is the 3rd time in the history of the IPL that the Chinnaswamy Stadium is hosting the inaugural match of an IPL season, and the last time it happened was in 2011, when the Royal Challengers Bangalore took on the Kochi Tuskers.
Smriti Mandhana, Shreyanka Patil, and Jemimah Rodrigues were spotted at the Chinnaswamy stands during the match. Smriti Mandhana and Shreyanka Patil are celebrated amongst the Bengaluru crowd as they were part of the title-winning squad of the WPL 2024 edition, when the RCB women won the first-ever title for their franchise. They repeated the feat in the 2026 edition of the WPL as well, and they have scripted a legacy of their own for the franchise.
Smriti Mandhana, the RCB skipper, has been a phenomenal player for the side, and she also became the first captain in the history of the tournament to win the WPL title and the Orange Cap in the same season. Shreyanka Patil, the dynamic all-rounder, has had memorable nights with the franchise as well. She has been one of the most valuable spinners of the side as she has bowled quite exceptional spells for RCB. Jemimah Rodrigues, though she hasn’t played for RCB in the WPL, had made a name for herself in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup. Ever since that match-winning knock against the mighty Aussies in the Semi-Final of the ODI World Cup, she has looked much more confident, and there was a massive increase in her fanbase in India. Jemimag Rodrigues was also appointed as the Captain of the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League 2026 edition. Delhi Capitals finished 3rd on the points table with 8 points in their kitty.
The Chinnaswamy crowd is absolutely on their feet as the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, are playing in their home ground after a very long time. The RCB fans will be rooting for their side in the hope that Rajat Patidar and his men will be able to add another star to their jersey.
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