157/7 (20.0)
CR : 7.85
154/6 (20.0)
CR : 7.70
RCB Women won by 3 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
N de Klerk
4/2663(44)
Super Striker of the Match: Grace Harris (SR: 208)
Catch of the Match: Nicola Carey (Richa Ghosh's dismissal)
Most Sixes of the Match: Nadine de Klerk (2 sixes)
Most Dots in the Match: Lauren Bell (19 dot balls)
Smriti Mandhana (Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Captain): "Yeah, I mean, for the first match of the WPL, it was a thriller. RCB are known to play thrillers — last year we were on the receiving end of these matches. So, I’m happy that we pulled it off. I mean, it was brilliant from Nadine to finish the match like that.
Yeah, I mean, everyone was pretty positive, even off the field. We were having a laugh, and even when things weren’t going well, everyone stayed upbeat. I guess it’s easier to say now because we won, but even before that, the preparations had been really good. Everyone’s looking really, really sharp. And yeah, Nadine did all the hard work for us in both the bowling and batting departments.
I was just telling our head coach, Malolan, that I think we were in a similar situation against South Africa in the World Cup match, and she pulled it off. When she got dropped, we just said, 'When we dropped, Sajana got runs. Let’s hope she hits a couple of sixes,' and she actually did. Sometimes what you say actually happens, which is funny, but I’m really happy we got her those two points."
Yeah, I mean, everyone was pretty positive, even off the field. We were having a laugh, and even when things weren’t going well, everyone stayed upbeat. I guess it’s easier to say now because we won, but even before that, the preparations had been really good. Everyone’s looking really, really sharp. And yeah, Nadine did all the hard work for us in both the bowling and batting departments.
I was just telling our head coach, Malolan, that I think we were in a similar situation against South Africa in the World Cup match, and she pulled it off. When she got dropped, we just said, 'When we dropped, Sajana got runs. Let’s hope she hits a couple of sixes,' and she actually did. Sometimes what you say actually happens, which is funny, but I’m really happy we got her those two points."
Player of the Match: Nadine de Klerk
Nadine de Klerk (Player of the Match): "It's probably going to take a couple of days but sometimes in cricket you need to understand that if it's your day, then you need to cash in. So yeah, I was obviously lucky to get a few chances my way but I am just glad that we got over the line. It's always great to start with a win.
Well, it was just about coming in and backing yourself. I was just trying to execute my plans. Obviously we started really well with Belly (Lauren Bell) and the other bowlers in the powerplay. I think she bowled exceptionally well. I was just sticking to my strengths and things were just going my way.
I was probably a bit frustrated to be honest in the beginning of my innings. I was struggling to get it away. Cricket is a funny game. You just need to stay in the fight and it was just a massive mentality thing to not give up. It's a very good batting wicket and I was just trying to give myself a chance there and luckily it came out well today.
I think probably towards the backend of the innings, I was thinking about probably facing bulk of the deliveries. There was a few very important partnerships earlier. Aru (Arundhati) batted well, Prema played a couple of good shots which took some pressure off me and made my life a little easier. In the last over, I was just trying to back myself and glad it worked out well."
Well, it was just about coming in and backing yourself. I was just trying to execute my plans. Obviously we started really well with Belly (Lauren Bell) and the other bowlers in the powerplay. I think she bowled exceptionally well. I was just sticking to my strengths and things were just going my way.
I was probably a bit frustrated to be honest in the beginning of my innings. I was struggling to get it away. Cricket is a funny game. You just need to stay in the fight and it was just a massive mentality thing to not give up. It's a very good batting wicket and I was just trying to give myself a chance there and luckily it came out well today.
I think probably towards the backend of the innings, I was thinking about probably facing bulk of the deliveries. There was a few very important partnerships earlier. Aru (Arundhati) batted well, Prema played a couple of good shots which took some pressure off me and made my life a little easier. In the last over, I was just trying to back myself and glad it worked out well."
Highest Individual Scores Batting at Number 6 or Lower WPL:
63* - Nadine de Klerk (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) vs Mumbai Indians, Navi Mumbai, 2026 (Tonight)
62 - Chinelle Henry (UP Warriorz) vs Delhi Capitals, Bengaluru, 2025
61 - Bharti Fulmali (Gujarat Giants) vs Mumbai Indians, Brabourne (Mumbai) 2025
59 - Grace Harris (UP Warriorz) vs Gujarat Giants, Navi Mumbai, 2025
63* - Nadine de Klerk (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) vs Mumbai Indians, Navi Mumbai, 2026 (Tonight)
62 - Chinelle Henry (UP Warriorz) vs Delhi Capitals, Bengaluru, 2025
61 - Bharti Fulmali (Gujarat Giants) vs Mumbai Indians, Brabourne (Mumbai) 2025
59 - Grace Harris (UP Warriorz) vs Gujarat Giants, Navi Mumbai, 2025
Most Runs Scored in the Last Over of a Run Chase in a Winning Cause in WT20s:
23 - Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars in WBBL, Junction Oval, 2022
19 - UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants in WPL, Navi Mumbai, 2023
18 - Auckland Hearts vs Canterbury Magicians in Women's Super Smash, Christchurch. 2024
18 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians in WPL, Navi Mumbai, 2026 - TONIGHT*
23 - Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars in WBBL, Junction Oval, 2022
19 - UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants in WPL, Navi Mumbai, 2023
18 - Auckland Hearts vs Canterbury Magicians in Women's Super Smash, Christchurch. 2024
18 - Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians in WPL, Navi Mumbai, 2026 - TONIGHT*
That is the end of our live coverage of the season opener in the Women's Premier League 2026! A mouth-watering fixture to kick off the 4th edition. Two teams that have previously tasted success by lifting the silverware gave a proper entertainment to everyone. In the end, it was Nadine de Klerk's clutch show. After picking up 4 wickets with the ball, the South African pulled off a heist with her unbeaten 44-ball 63 to take the game away from the defending champions. So, RCB Women start with a thrilling win.
Tomorrow, we will have a doubleheader. Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz go head-to-head in the afternoon game, before MI return to face Delhi Capitals in the evening clash.
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Pritam Dey, helping buddies Deepak Prakash and Ajay Pal Singh and scorers Paras Yadav and Manish Bishnoi. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!
Tomorrow, we will have a doubleheader. Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz go head-to-head in the afternoon game, before MI return to face Delhi Capitals in the evening clash.
For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Pritam Dey, helping buddies Deepak Prakash and Ajay Pal Singh and scorers Paras Yadav and Manish Bishnoi. We will meet again. Until then, it is cheers!