The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) burst into life in Navi Mumbai with some of the most thrilling and memorable performances in the competition’s young history. As teams battled across DY Patil Sports Academy turf from January 9 onward, a series of individual heroics and match-defining contributions ensured that fans were treated to compelling action. Here are the top seven moments from the Navi Mumbai leg.
1. Sophie Devine’s All-Round Masterclass
One of the earliest and most breathtaking performances of the season came from Sophie Devine for Gujarat Giants against Delhi Capitals. Devine’s explosive 95 off 42 balls powered the Giants to a formidable total of 209 in a match that produced a massive 414-run aggregate, one of the highest in WPL history. Her innings was studded with seven fours and eight sixes, putting the Delhi bowling attack under relentless pressure throughout.
Crucially, Devine also made her mark with the ball by taking 2 wickets for 21 runs in the chase and then returning to bowl a sensational final over, dismissing both set batters and conceding just two runs to seal a dramatic four-run win while defending 6 runs. This was a complete all-round display, blending power scoring with clutch bowling under pressure.
2. Smriti Mandhana’s Stunning 96
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, captain Smriti Mandhana produced a marquee performance with the bat against Delhi Capitals, scoring a glorious 96 off 61 balls to steer her team to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory. The elegant left-hander struck 13 fours and three sixes, narrowly missing out on a WPL century but rewriting the record books by becoming the highest individual scorer by an Indian batter in WPL history. She and Georgia Voll shared a match-winning partnership that anchored RCB’s chase and solidified their unbeaten record in the Navi Mumbai leg.
3. Nandni Sharma’s Historic Hat-Trick
Though her efforts didn’t lead to victory, Delhi Capitals’ Nandni Sharma created history by becoming only the fourth bowler to take a hat-trick in the WPL. Her treble came at a critical juncture against Gujarat Giants, finishing with a five-wicket haul that included three wickets in three balls by dismissing Kanika Ahuja, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Renuka Singh Thakur. Her three wickets came through sheer accuracy rather than raw pace, exploiting batters attempting to force the issue at the death.
4. Nadine de Klerk’s Ice-Cold Finish
The tournament opener saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a tense chase against Mumbai Indians, and it was Nadine de Klerk who held her nerve when the pressure peaked. Coming in at number six with the score at 102/5 and the asking rate climbing, de Klerk scored 63 not out off 44 balls, including 7 fours and 2 sixes, guiding RCB to a three-wicket victory. She rotated the strike efficiently, capitalized on loose deliveries, and built a crucial partnership of 52 runs with Arundhati Reddy for the sixth wicket. She also registered an equally astonishing bowling performance earlier in the first innings finishing with the figures of 4/26 dismissing key batters of Mumbai Indians.
5. Shreyanka Patil’s Five-Wicket Haul
RCB’s bowling attack clicked into high gear in another standout game as Shreyanka Patil claimed a five-for (5/23) to dismantle Gujarat Giants. Her sensational figures not only starved the opposition of momentum but also helped RCB stay unbeaten during the Navi Mumbai segment. Shreyanka’s effort marks her among a select group of bowlers to achieve a five-wicket haul in WPL history. Earlier during the auction, RCB had shown immense faith in the youngster retaining her even when she hadn’t had the taste of professional cricket for 13 months due to her injury.
6. Radha Yadav’s Crucial 66*
Also, for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Radha Yadav delivered one of the most important batting contributions of the tournament. With RCB in a precarious position early on, Radha played a powerful 66-run knock that steadied the innings and helped post a commanding total that the bowlers could defend. What added greater value to Radha’s knock was her 105-run partnership with Richa Ghosh. Coming together at a precarious stage, the duo counter-attacked smartly, mixing calculated aggression with sharp running between the wickets, putting their team up to a competitive total of 182.
7. Harleen Deol’s Redemption Knock
Harleen Deol’s retired-out moment became one of the most debated tactical calls in WPL history. Batting fluently and nearing a half-century, Deol was asked to walk off late in UP Warriorz’s game against Delhi Capitals. The move backfired as the team failed to add significant runs and went on to lose, turning Deol’s exit into a flashpoint moment of the season. What followed made the episode unforgettable. Less than a day later, Deol produced a stirring comeback, scoring an unbeaten 64 runs off 39 balls, including 12 fours, against Mumbai Indians to lead UP Warriorz to victory. Calm, confident, and commanding, she let her bat do the talking, transforming criticism into celebration. The sequence from controversy to redemption, perfectly captured the drama, pressure, and resilience that define the WPL, cementing it as one of the league’s standout moments.
The Navi Mumbai leg of WPL 2026 lived up to its billing, producing high scoring matches, individual brilliance, and unforgettable storylines. From Devine’s all-round dominance to Deol’s redemption, the DY Patil Stadium proved to be a stage where pressure forged performances that will be remembered long after the season concludes. As the tournament moves to Vadodara for the next set of fixtures, fans can expect more thrilling contests and emerging stars to make their mark on a new pitch, adding fresh chapters to the WPL 2026 narrative.
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