Highlights | WPL 2026, MI vs RCB: De Klerk's all-round show stuns defending champs in season opener

Two-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) face off 2024 winners Royal Challengers Bengalurur (RCB) in WPL 2026 season opener on Friday (Jan 9) at DY Patil stadium in Navi Mumbai.

RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field first in match 1 of WPL 2026 vs Mumbai Indians at DY Patil in Navi Mumbai.

RCB Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Grace Harris, D Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell

MI Playing XI: Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), G Kamalini, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti, S Sajana, Saika Ishaque

RCB's Lauren Bell bowled three of the first six overs, giving away just seven runs and taking a wicket as well. For MI, G Kamalini looks in fine touch as she races to 26 off just 20 balls, hitting five fours in the innings so far. Overall, powerplay belonged to RCB.

MI-W: 34/1 in 6 overs (Kamalini 26 not out, Bell 1/7)

17-year-old Kamalini anchored MI's innings. The teenager has scored nearly half of her team's runs at the half-way mark before getting out at the 10-over completion mark. RCB has bowled well with Lauren Bell finishing her 4 overs for 1/14. Shreyanka Patil and Nadine de Klerk taking the other two wickets. MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is now at the crease with Nicola Carey.

MI-W: 63/3 in 10 overs (Kamalini 32, Bell 1/14)

RCB bowlers have done a good job so far to keep Mumbai Indians batters tied up. The defending champions, however, have reached 100 runs with five more overs remaining. MI lost skipper Harman in the 11th over for just 20 runs but Carey and Sajeevan Sajana have kept innings going.

MI-W: 100/4 in 15 overs (Kamalini 32, de Klerk 2/8)

Sajeevan Sajana scored 45 off just 25 balls, her highest WPL score. She added 82 runs with Carey (40 off 29) for the fifth wicket to take Mumbai to a respectable score. At the beginning of last 5 overs, MI were looking at a score of 130ish but Sajana and Carey made sure that the MI bowlers have something to bowl at.

For RCB, Nadine de Klerk was the pick of the bowlers with a four-wicket haul including dismissing Sajana and Carey in the last over. Bell and Shreyanka picked one wicket each as well.

MI-W: 154/6 in 20 overs (Sajana 45, de Klerk 4/26)

RCB-W need 155 runs in 20 overs at 7.75 rpo

While chasing a target of 155, RCB openers skipper Madhana (18) and Harris (25) gave their side a strong start, adding 40 runs for the opening stand before Madhana’s dismissal. Mumbai struck at crucial moments as Ismail removed the RCB captain on the final ball of the fourth over, while Nat Sciver-Brunt picked up the important wicket of Harris in the fifth over.

RCB-W: 57/2 in 6 overs (Grace Harris 25, Shabnim Ismail 1/11 ) vs MI 154/6 (20 overs)

RCB need 98 runs to win in 14 overs at 7.00 rpo

MI bowlers have bowled well so far and kept the Bengaluru batters under control. The 2024 champions lost an important wicket of Richa Ghosh for 6 in the eighth over, but Nadine de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy have continued the innings and kept the score moving.

RCB-W: 75/5 in 10 overs (Amelia Kerr 2/5 ) vs MI 154/6 (20 overs)

RCB need 80 runs to win in 10 overs at 8.00 rpo

This match is heading for a thrilling finish! Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women hold a slight edge, with Nadine de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy looking solid in the middle.

RCB-W: 117/5 in 16 overs (Nadine de Klerk 32*, Amelia Kerr 2/5 ) vs MI 154/6 (20 overs)

RCB need 38 runs to win in four overs at 9.91 rpo

Nadine de Klerk won the match for RCB in dramatic fashion. RCB needed 18 runs from the last four balls, and she delivered with a six, four, six and four to seal a stunning victory. The RCB Women celebrated in disbelief, while Mumbai Indians Women were left shocked by the turnaround.