WPL 2026: RCB-W reaches playoffs with their fifth consecutive win
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured their place in the playoffs of the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) with their fifth consecutive win. The team defeated Gujarat Giants by 61 runs in Vadodara on Monday. Player of the Match Gautami Nayak scored a half-century, while Sayali Satghare took 3 wickets.
After a poor start, Mandhana steadied the innings. Gujarat chose to bowl at the Kotambi Stadium. Bangalore lost two wickets in the powerplay, with Grace Harris and Georgia Wareham getting out for 1 run each. Captain Smriti Mandhana then steadied the innings with Gautami Nayak, and the duo put on a fifty-run partnership. Mandhana was dismissed for 26 runs.
Gautami then formed another fifty-run partnership with Richa Ghosh, taking the team past 130 runs. Richa was out for 27 runs, and Gautami was dismissed after scoring 73 runs. Finally, Radha Yadav (17), Nadine de Klerk (4), and Shreyanka Patil (8) helped the team reach a total of 178 runs.
Gardner and Kashvee took 2 wickets each
For Gujarat Giants, captain Ashleigh Gardner took 2 wickets for 43 runs, and Kashvee Gautam also took 2 wickets for 38 runs. Renuka Singh and Sophie Devine bowled 4 overs each and took one wicket apiece. Happy Kumari, Georgia Wareham, and Tanuja Kanwar failed to take any wickets.
Gujarat loses despite Gardner’s fifty
Chasing a target of 179 runs, Gujarat lost 3 wickets for just 5 runs. Sophie Devine and Kanika Ahuja failed to open their accounts. Wicketkeeper Beth Mooney was dismissed for 3 runs. By the time the score reached 56, the team had lost 3 more wickets. Anushka Sharma (18), Kashvee Gautam (4), and Georgia Wareham (2) returned to the pavilion. Captain Ashleigh Gardner held one end, and Bharti Fulmali provided her with some support for a while. Gardner was dismissed in the 17th over after scoring a half-century. Fulmali returned to the pavilion after scoring 14 runs. The team could only manage 117 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 20 overs and lost the match by 61 runs.
Sayali Satghare takes 3 wickets for the second consecutive match
Pacer Sayali Satghare took 3 wickets in her second consecutive WPL match. She conceded only 21 runs. Earlier, she had also taken 3 wickets against Delhi Capitals. Nadine de Klerk took 2 wickets. Lauren Bell, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil took one wicket each.
Three seasons of the WPL have been played so far. Mumbai Indians won the title in 2023 and 2025. Royal Challengers Bangalore became the champions in 2024. The team has once again entered the knockout round in the fourth season by winning 5 consecutive matches. Apart from RCB, no other team has managed to win even 3 matches. Mumbai, UP, and Gujarat have two wins each. Due to a better run rate, MI is second and UP is third. Delhi is in the last position after one win.
