Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)under his inspired guidance Smriti Mandhanaorganized a clinical campaign Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 tagainst him to secure their place in the Grand Final Capitals of Delhi. Finishing at the top of the league table, RCB’s composure in the final season as the Scorchers allowed them to bypass the Eliminator and go straight to the championship match at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clinical WPL 2026 campaign
Key player contributions
- Nadine de Klerk: The South African all-rounder has been the heartbeat of the team, finishing first in the league stage Purple Cap Holder With 15 doors. His ice-cold 63* in the season opener defined RCB’s resilient spirit.
- Smriti Mandhana (Captain): Showing tactical improvement and aggressive intent, Mandhana reached the top order by finishing as the top five run-scorer, providing the leadership stability needed during the mid-season lapses.
- Lauren Bell: The English pacer was the ‘Queen of the Powerplay’, finishing the group stage with the most dot balls (104) and providing early breakthroughs that allowed the spinners to dominate the middle innings.
- Grace Harris: The recent ‘X-Factor’ Harris produced a match-defining performance in the final league game against UPW, scoring 75 runs and 2 wickets to clinch the top spot.
RCB’s Road to Finals in WPL 2026: All 8 Matches
The Royal Challengers navigated a high-intensity league campaign (6 Wins, 2 Losses) displaying both dominant character and the ability to win “ugly” when required to finish 1st and qualify directly for the Grand Final.
Match 1: RCB vs Mumbai Indians (Last Ball Thriller): RCB ignited their campaign with a heartwarming win. Chasing 155, the top order fell to 75/5. Nadine de Klerk She showed world-class pedigree, scoring 18 runs against Hayley Mathews in the final to seal a 3-wicket win off the last ball.
Match 2: RCB vs UP Warriorz (The Spin Squeeze): Scorchers style defensive bowling was on full display here. After posting a modest 148, the spin duo of Shreyanka Patil and Asha Sobhana stifled the Warriorz’s chase, conceding just 24 runs in the last five overs to secure a 12-run win.
Match 3: RCB vs Gujarat Giants (The Dominant Streak): RCB’s third win in a row was a masterclass in clinical follow-up. Mandhana and Harris dismantled the Giants bowling attack with a 90-run partnership, reaching a target of 162 with 7 wickets and 15 balls to spare.
Match 4: RCB vs Delhi Capitals (First Leg Final): In a relentless battle for supremacy, RCB edged out Delhi in a low-scoring thriller. Lauren Bell’s opening blast (2/15) proved the difference as RCB successfully defended their total below 140, asserting their dominance as the winning team in the first game.
Match 5: RCB vs Gujarat Giants (Playoff Qualifier): When the tournament moved to Vadodara, RCB became the first team to mathematically secure a place in the playoffs. They completed the double over the giants with a comprehensive 40-run victory highlighted by a blistering half-century from Sophie Devine.
Match 6: RCB vs Delhi Capitals (First major setback): Finally, the undefeated streak was snapped. On a poor track, the RCB batting unit collapsed to just 109. Capitals chased it down with ruthless efficiency, winning by 7 wickets and revealing a rare weakness in the RCB middle order.
Match 7: RCB vs Mumbai Indians (The Century Classic): In a high-octane encounter, RCB suffered their second loss in a row. A career-best 90 despite being gutsy Richa Ghoshthe team fell short of MI’s 200-run total, powered by a maiden WPL century from Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Match 8: RCB vs UP Warriorz (Wins Outright Final Spot): In the winner-takes-all final league match, RCB performed under immense pressure. Nadine de Klerk before producing a devastating spell of 4/22 to limit UPW Grace Harris He scored 75 off 37 balls in just 13.1 overs. This massive NRR boost secured the #1 seed and a direct ticket to the Finals.
Spectacular WPL 2026 Final: RCB vs Delhi Capitals
By finishing 1st, RCB sidestepped a high-stakes Eliminator and mirrored the Scorchers’ ability to peak at the right time. With five different Man of the Match winners in 8 games, RCB enter the 2026 Grand Final as the most balanced unit in the competition.
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This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
