On a breezy evening in Vadodara, Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 returned with a top-quality encounter as Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women showcased their most complete performance of the season to outclass Gujarat Giants by 61 runs. It was a night where RCB balanced flair and precision, both with the bat and ball, while Gujarat struggled to match the tempo, falling behind in the chase early and never recovering.
RCB’s innings began with a bit of a stutter; Grace Harris lasting just six deliveries before Renuka Singh Thakur found a probing line to dismiss her for 1 (3). Smriti Mandhana, who looked set to play the role of anchor, fought her way to 26 off 23 balls, hitting the occasional boundary but perishing just when she looked ready to accelerate, lbw to Ashleigh Gardner at 69/3 in the 10th over.
Meanwhile, young Georgia Voll also departed cheaply, 1 off 3, adding pressure back on RCB at 2/9. But every innings needs a turning point, and for the Royal Challengers, Gautami Naik provided exactly that. Walking in with intent, Naik played arguably the defining knock of the evening, a sensational 73 off 55 balls, packed with seven fours and a six. Calm under pressure, she rebuilt alongside Mandhana early and then shifted gears when partnered with Richa Ghosh.
Ghosh, batting in her trademark fearless mode, added 27 from 20 deliveries, smashing three boundaries before becoming Gardner’s third victim. With the scoreboard reading 138/4, RCB were primed for a late surge, and Nadine de Klerk (4* off 6), Radha Yadav 17 off 8 balls, and Shreyanka Patil 8 off 2 balls supplied exactly that final push, lifting the total to an imposing 178/6 in 20 overs.
For Gujarat Giants, the bowling effort was spirited in patches. Kashvee Gautam (2/38) and Ashleigh Gardner (2/43) led the attack, while Renuka Singh Thakur (1/23) chipped in. Sophie Devine conceded just 25 in 4 overs for one wicket, though support and control at both ends remained intermittent.
Chasing 179 was always going to need early momentum, but Gujarat’s innings unravelled quickly. Beth Mooney lasted just four balls for 3, bowled by Sayali Satghare, and Sophie Devine followed without scoring, falling to Voll off Satghare too. The top order collapsed at 4/2 and then 34/4, leaving the Giants searching for stability.
Anushka Sharma’s 18 off 20 offered hope, but the innings hinged almost entirely on captain Ashleigh Gardner, who struck a combative 54 off 43 balls, six fours and a maximum, but found little support. Once Gardner departed at 97/7, the contest was effectively sealed.
RCB’s bowlers were relentless throughout the match, showcasing their skill and determination. Satghare emerged as the standout performer, delivering a remarkable performance with figures of 3 for 21 and contributing significant early breakthroughs with the new ball. Nadine de Klerk also played a crucial role, effectively applying pressure in the middle overs with her economical bowling, finishing with impressive figures of 2 for 17. In addition to these key contributions, both Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with valuable wickets, taking 1 for 34 and 1 for 19, respectively.
Lauren Bell further solidified RCB’s strong bowling display by keeping things tight, claiming 1 for 23 and helping to maintain the team’s dominant control over the game. With Gujarat finishing at 117/8, RCB celebrated a dominant victory that boosted their standings and a spot confirmed in the knockouts. Gautami Naik deservedly walked away with Player of the Match honours for her match-shaping innings.
For Gujarat Giants, it’s back to the drawing board; they’ll need more collective batting effort to stay competitive. For RCB Women, this may well be the performance that sparks a winning streak in the WPL 2026 season.
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