In the ongoing 4th edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on January 9, 2026, at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s new head coach Malolan Rangarajan masterminded a stunning 3-wicket victory over two-time champions Mumbai Indians. Skipper Smriti Mandhana’s decision to bowl first paid dividends as RCB’s pacers, led by debutant Lauren Bell and a returning Nadine de Klerk, restricted MI to 154/6.
Rangarajan, stepping into his first match at the helm in the WPL after six years with RCB across leagues, showcased his tactical acumen in guiding the 2024 champions to a heist chase, anchored by de Klerk’s maiden WPL half-century (63* off 44 balls), earning her Player of the Match honours.
The match ignited with RCB’s bowling dominance. Lauren Bell, the towering English pacer on WPL debut, opened with a maiden over and claimed Amelia Kerr’s wicket, finishing with 4-1-14-1 to throttle MI’s top order. Nadine de Klerk complemented her with a devastating 4-0-26-4 spell, dismantling MI’s middle order, including Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, and Nicola Carey. Despite a blistering start from Gunalan Kamalini (32 off 28) and rescues from Sajana (45 off 25) and Carey (40 off 29), the Australian all-rounder making a surprise debut for MI after Hayley Matthews’ illness, RCB kept the total to a par score.
RCB’s chase unravelled early at 67/4 in 11 overs, but de Klerk’s ice-cool knock, laced with 7 fours and 2 sixes, turned the tide. Contributions from Grace Harris (25 off 12), Arundhati Reddy (20 off 25), and Prema Rawat (8 off 4) provided crucial support, while Amelia Kerr’s economical 4-0-13-2 briefly revived MI hopes by dismissing Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh (6 off 6). Rangarajan’s faith in all-round depth shone through, as RCB crossed the line with 3 wickets on the final ball of the run chase. No dew factored in, defying expectations at DY Patil.
Post-match, Rangarajan dissected the win with characteristic candour, crediting execution amid self-inflicted errors. “Even in the first innings, if you see, we were dominating the first half of the innings. And then partly to blame ourselves also, you know, Sajana played a very good innings, credit to her. But we did drop two catches, which changed the momentum,” he noted, praising MI’s Nicola Carey for her “overseas experience and all-round impact.”
His strategic foresight was evident in backing de Klerk’s clarity under pressure. Walking into the strategic timeout, Rangarajan heard her blueprint: “She was very clear with her plan, how she was going to approach the next 11 overs. She wanted to chase down upwards of eight in the last four.” This belief in “making your own luck” underscored his philosophy, honed over RCB’s triumphs and setbacks.
Rangarajan also revealed meticulous pre-tournament prep, from auction hauls like Grace Harris to lineup calls favouring overseas spinner Linsey Smith (2-0-23-0 on debut) over Gautami Naik for historical balance. On Prema Rawat’s finishing cameo, he highlighted her fighter’s spirit: “I’ve always valued characters and attitude. Prema Rawat is one of those who is a fighter. Quiet on the face of it, but inside will fight, won’t give up.” With Pooja Vastrakar sidelined by a hamstring tweak, his flexible batting order, Richa Ghosh at No. 4, Radha Yadav slotted higher, signals depth sans Ellyse Perry.
Rangarajan’s debut victory as RCB head coach sets an aggressive tone for RCB’s quest to reclaim the WPL title, blending bold powerplay intent (“at three overs when you have 40 runs, it gives us that breathing space”) with all-round resilience. As WPL 4 unfolds, his blend of detail-oriented planning and player empowerment positions RCB as genuine contenders.
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