The Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai came alive on January 9, 2026, hosting the Women’s Premier League (WPL) opener amid a carnival atmosphere.
England’s Lauren Bell delivered the real fireworks after RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to bowl. The 25-year-old right-arm fast medium bowler Lauren Bell made a wonderful debut.
Bell has played across 36 T20Is and has 50 wickets to her name at an economy of 7.14. Those 50 T20I wickets showcase Bell’s skill late swing, raw pace, and tactical nous from her career. RCB snapped her up for exactly this new ball threat and middle over choke.
Lauren Bell lived up to the hype in her WPL debut. Her WPL debut spell was a revelation of raw control and tactical brilliance. In her quota of 4 overs, she conceded just 14 runs for 1 wicket, including a priceless maiden over, at an economy of 3.5 that shredded expectations in a high octane T20 clash.
The defining moment came early when she dismantled Mumbai Indians opener Amelia Kerr at just 4 runs, leaving Mumbai Indians tottering at 21/1 and instantly spiking the pressure. That breakthrough set the tone. Bell was supported by fellow RCB bowlers like Nadine de Klerk and Shreyanka Patil.
After a disciplined bowling effort, which restricted Mumbai Indians to a respectable total, RCB showed great character in a tense chase. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals and being reduced to 121 for 7, they remained composed. RCB displayed depth, determination, and smart game awareness to cross the line in the final over.
With this win RCB has an ideal start of WPL 2026, with Bell emerging as one of their X-factor alongside Nadine de Klerk. Mumbai Indians lost the match but fought till end and showed dedication, but RCB players owned the script, Bell’s fire breathing pace stole the show. She etched a dreamy stat line right on her WPL debut, signaling she’s one of the must watch players throughout the tournament.
Her tight spell not only choked Mumbai Indians’ scoring but proved pivotal, as RCB clinched a heart stopping victory on the very last ball every run she saved through that stellar economy becoming a crucial factor in their nail-biting triumph. As WPL crisscrosses Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, expect her to rack up headlines and wickets alike.
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