RCB defeat defending champions MI on last ball in WPL 2026 opener
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 got off to a thrilling start on Friday, with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pulling off a stunning three-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. The match went down to the wire, with RCB chasing down the target of 155 runs on the very last ball of the innings.
MI, who won the toss and chose to bat, got off to a decent start, with their openers putting on a 30-run partnership. However, it was Sajeevan Sajana who stole the show with a blistering 45 off just 25 balls, including five fours and two sixes. Her innings helped MI post a competitive total of 154-6 in their 20 overs.
The star of the show for RCB was undoubtedly Nadine de Klerk, who picked up four wickets for just 25 runs in her four overs. Her spell helped restrict MI to a manageable total, and she later played a crucial role in RCB’s chase as well.
Chasing 155 runs to win, RCB got off to a rocky start, losing two wickets in the first two overs. However, De Klerk and her partner, Smriti Mandhana, steadied the ship with a 50-run partnership. Mandhana fell for 24, but De Klerk continued to bat sensibly, taking RCB closer to the target.
As the innings wore on, the tension mounted, with RCB needing 20 runs off the last two overs. De Klerk, however, remained calm and composed, smashing two fours and a six in the penultimate over to bring the equation down to six runs off the last over.
With six runs needed off six balls, RCB’s lower order batsmen held their nerves, taking singles and twos to bring the equation down to two runs off the last ball. De Klerk, who was batting on 63 off 44 balls, then hit a four off the last ball to seal the win for RCB.
The victory was a thrilling start to the WPL 2026 season, and RCB will be delighted to have gotten off to a winning start. For MI, it was a disappointing loss, but they will look to bounce back in their next match.
The WPL 2026 season promises to be an exciting one, with some of the world’s best women cricketers in action. The league features five teams – RCB, MI, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz – and will be played over a period of three weeks.
In the end, it was a memorable win for RCB, and one that will give them plenty of confidence going into their next match. As for MI, they will look to regroup and come back stronger in their next outing.
RCB’s win was a testament to their team’s depth and resilience, and they will look to build on this momentum as the season progresses. With De Klerk in fine form, RCB will be a team to watch out for in the WPL 2026 season.
The WPL 2026 season is expected to be a closely contested one, with all five teams having a strong squad. The league will feature some of the world’s best women cricketers, including the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Ellyse Perry.
The DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai will be one of the venues for the WPL 2026 season, and it proved to be a great venue for the opening match. The crowd was electric, and the pitch played well, with both teams scoring freely.
In conclusion, the WPL 2026 season got off to a thrilling start, with RCB pulling off a stunning win over defending champions MI. The match was a testament to the excitement and unpredictability of the WPL, and fans can expect plenty of thrilling matches in the days to come.
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