The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 season kicked off with an absolute nail-biter as Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women edged past defending champions Mumbai Indians Women by three wickets off the very last ball. The electrifying contest unfolded at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Friday, setting a high-octane tone for the tournament.
De Klerk's All-Round Masterclass Seals the Deal
The match will be remembered as Nadine de Klerk's night. The South African all-rounder delivered a performance for the ages, first with the ball and then with the bat. De Klerk picked up four crucial wickets to restrict Mumbai Indians to a total of 154 for 6 in their 20 overs. Her victims included key batters, effectively breaking the backbone of the MI innings.
However, her heroics were far from over. Chasing 155, RCB found themselves in a tense situation during the middle overs. Stepping up with the bat, De Klerk played a calm yet aggressive innings, remaining unbeaten on 63 runs from just 44 deliveries. With the game coming down to the wire, RCB needed two runs from the final ball. Showing immense courage, De Klerk lofted the ball over the infield for a boundary, sealing a famous victory for her team and sending the RCB fans into a frenzy.
Mumbai's Fightback Falls Just Short
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Mumbai Indians had a shaky start. Their top order, including stars like Amelia Kerr and Nat Sciver-Brunt who both scored only 4 runs each, failed to fire. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur tried to stabilise the innings with a 20-run knock but couldn't convert it into a big score.
The innings was resurrected by a spirited partnership between Sajeevan Sajana and Nicola Carey. Sajana smashed a quickfire 45 off 25 balls, while Carey provided steady support with a 40-run contribution from 29 deliveries. Their efforts propelled MI to a competitive, fighting total of 154. However, their sloppy fielding, which included dropped catches, proved costly in the end.
Perfect Start for RCB, Lessons for MI
This victory provides Royal Challengers Bengaluru with the perfect launchpad for their WPL 2026 campaign. The win, carved out in the most dramatic fashion, will boost team morale immensely. Key contributions also came from Grace Harris, who gave a blazing start with 25 off 12 balls, and Arundhati Reddy, whose 20 runs provided vital support to De Klerk in the chase.
For the Mumbai Indians, it was a case of missed opportunities. Despite posting a decent total, their inability to capitalise on early breakthroughs and lapses in the field allowed RCB back into the game. They will need to regroup quickly as the tournament progresses.
The opening match has set a spectacular precedent for WPL 2026, promising fans a season filled with high-quality, edge-of-the-seat cricket. All eyes will now be on the upcoming fixtures as the other teams begin their campaigns.
