Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women kicked off WPL 2026 with a heart-stopping 3-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians Women in the season opener on January 9, 2026, at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. Nadine de Klerk delivered one of the greatest all-round performances in Women’s Premier League history, smashing an unbeaten 63 off 44 balls and taking 4/26 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
When RCB needed 18 runs off the final over, the South African all-rounder stayed ice-cool. Facing Nat Sciver-Brunt, she survived two dot balls before exploding with 6, 4, 6, 4 off the last four deliveries to spark wild celebrations. This MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 clash lived up to every bit of hype as the perfect curtain-raiser for the fourth edition of the tournament.
Brief Scores Table:
| Team | Score | Overs | Key Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) | 154/6 | 20 | S Sajana 45 (25), Nicola Carey 40 (29) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) | 157/7 | 20 | Nadine de Klerk 63* (44), Grace Harris 25 (12) |
Player of the Match: Nadine de Klerk (RCB) – 63* & 4/26
This MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 opener had everything cricket fans crave: explosive starts, dramatic collapses, record partnerships, and a finish that left everyone breathless. For full scorecard and live updates, check the official WPL site or Cricbuzz commentary.
Toss, Playing XIs, and Why DY Patil Delivered Another Classic
Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to bowl first, trusting her pacers on a surface that often assists early swing while dew helps chases later. The decision paid off instantly.
Mumbai Indians Women Playing XI:
- G Kamalini (wk)
- Amelia Kerr
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Nicola Carey
- S Sajana
- Amanjot Kaur
- Poonam Khemnar
- Shabnim Ismail
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Saika Ishaque
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Playing XI:
- Grace Harris
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Radha Yadav
- Nadine de Klerk
- Arundhati Reddy
- Shreyanka Patil
- Prema Rawat
- Linsey Smith
- Lauren Bell
The Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai is a fan favourite with its 60,000 capacity and balanced pitch. Average first-innings score in WPL hovers around 150-160, and chases have a slight edge under lights due to dew.
Mumbai Indians Innings: From Struggle to Sajana-Carey Fireworks
MIW got off to a nightmare start. Lauren Bell, on debut for RCB, bowled a dream spell – swinging the new ball late and sending down 11 dot balls in her first two overs. Amelia Kerr, opening without the ill Hayley Matthews, scratched around for 4 off 15 before edging to cover.
Early wickets piled on:
- Nat Sciver-Brunt stumped for 4
- Captain Harmanpreet Kaur caught behind for 20 off 17 (a classy cameo with one massive six)
MIW slumped to 67/4 in the 11th over. A total under 140 looked certain.
Then came the turnaround. Promoted up the order, S Sajana (45 off 25) and debutant Nicola Carey (40 off 29) launched a brutal counter-attack. Their 82-run partnership for the 5th wicket (off just 49 balls) is now MI’s highest for the fifth wicket or lower in WPL history.
MIW Partnerships Table:
| Wicket | Partnership | Runs | Balls | Batters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kerr-Kamalini | 21 | 30 | |
| 2nd | Sciver-Brunt-Kamalini | 14 | 8 | |
| 3rd | Kaur-Kamalini | 28 | 22 | |
| 4th | Carey-Kaur | 4 | 6 | |
| 5th | Sajana-Carey | 82 | 49 | Record for MI |
| 6th | Carey-Amanjot | 5 | 4 |
MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 Sajana was pure aggression – seven fours and a six, targeting both sides of the wicket. Carey rotated strike brilliantly and found gaps. Thanks to setting dew, MI plundered 69 runs in the last six overs to reach a competitive 154/6.
But Nadine de Klerk had the last laugh, removing both set batters in the 20th over to cap a superb 4/26.
MIW Bowling Figures (RCB):
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Bell | 4 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 3.50 |
| Nadine de Klerk | 4 | 0 | 26 | 4 | 6.50 |
| Shreyanka Patil | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 |
RCB Chase: PowerPlay Blitz to Middle-Order Collapse and de Klerk Magic
RCB’s reply started like a rocket. Grace Harris (25 off 12, four fours and a six) and Smriti Mandhana (18 off 13) raced to 40 in just 23 balls. The PowerPlay yielded 57/2 – 23 runs more than MI managed.
Then disaster struck. Amanjot Kaur trapped Dayalan Hemalatha lbw, and Amelia Kerr produced a double-wicket over: bowling Radha Yadav and having Richa Ghosh caught in the deep. RCB crashed to 65/5 in the 8th over – losing five wickets for just 25 runs.
A steady 52-run stand between Nadine de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy (20 off 25) rebuilt hope. But when Reddy holed out in the 17th over, RCB still needed 38 off 24 with only four wickets left.
Enter Prema Rawat, who smashed two crucial boundaries (8* off 4). The equation came down to 18 off the final over.
Nat Sciver-Brunt started with two dots. Pressure peaked. Then de Klerk unleashed: six over long-on, four through cover, six over midwicket, and a final four drilled straight past the bowler.
RCB crossed the line at 157/7 with one ball to spare.
RCB Partnerships Table:
| Wicket | Partnership | Runs | Balls | Key Batters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Harris-Mandhana | 40 | 23 | Explosive start |
| 6th | de Klerk-Reddy | 52 | 51 | Rebuild |
| 8th | de Klerk-Rawat | 36* | 18 | Match-winning |
MIW Bowling Figures:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Kerr | 4 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 3.25 |
| Nicola Carey | 4 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | 4 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 11.80 |
Nadine de Klerk: The All-Round Queen Who Stole the Show
No one dominated this MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 match like Nadine de Klerk. The 25-year-old South African has a reputation for clutch performances – remember her match-winning knocks for South Africa in tight chases? RCB retained her wisely.
With the ball, she dismantled MI’s late surge, picking up key wickets including Sajana and Carey in the final over. Her 4/26 was the standout spell on a dew-affected night.
With the bat, coming in at No. 6 when RCB were 65/5, she absorbed pressure early before shifting gears. Her unbeaten 63 off 44 (7 fours, 2 sixes) is now the highest score from No. 6 or lower in WPL history.
She became only the second player after Deepti Sharma to score 50+ runs and take 4+ wickets in a WPL match.
Highest Scores from No. 6 or Lower in WPL:
| Rank | Player | Score | Balls | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nadine de Klerk (RCB) | 63* | 44 | vs MI | 2026 |
| 2 | Chinelle Henry (UPW) | 62 | 23 | vs DC | 2025 |
| 3 | Bharti Fulmali (GG) | 61 | 27 | vs MI | 2025 |
Fans on X (formerly Twitter) went wild: “Nadine de Klerk Remember the Name 🥶” and “Clutch queen Nadine de Klerk delivered for RCB big time.”
Other Standout Performers and Key Tactical Moments
- Lauren Bell (RCB Debut) → 4-1-14-1. Suffocated MI early with swing.
- Amelia Kerr (MI) → Bounced back from batting failure with 2/13, including a double-wicket over.
- S Sajana (MI) → Aggressive promotion paid off temporarily with 45 off 25.
- Grace Harris (RCB) → Set the tone with a blistering 25 off 12.
Five Turning Points:
- Bell’s PowerPlay spell restricting MI to 34/1.
- MI’s 82-run Sajana-Carey stand shifting momentum.
- Kerr’s double strike reducing RCB to 65/5.
- Fielding lapses in the 19th over (two drops, missed run-out off de Klerk).
- de Klerk’s final-over carnage.
Harmanpreet Kaur admitted post-match: “We just didn’t bowl one good ball in the last over… we gave her chances.”
Smriti Mandhana beamed: “Brilliant from Nadine to finish like that. RCB are known to play thrillers!”
Statistical Milestones from MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026
- 18 runs off the final over → Joint-third highest successfully chased in women’s T20s (where data available).
- Third last-ball win by a chasing side in WPL history.
- RCB chased 90+ runs for the last five wickets → New WPL record.
- de Klerk joins Deepti Sharma in elite 50+ runs & 4+ wickets club.
WPL 2026 Points Table (After Match 1):
| Pos | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.150 |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians Women | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.150 |
| 3-5 | Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, UP Warriorz | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – |
A Blockbuster Beginning to WPL 2026
This MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 opener reminded everyone why the Women’s Premier League is must-watch cricket. Momentum swings, individual brilliance, and nail-biting tension – it had it all.
Nadine de Klerk announced herself as a WPL superstar. RCB carry huge momentum into their next games, while MI will look to bounce back quickly.
What a way to start the season! Which moment from this thriller excited you the most? Drop your thoughts in the comments, share this recap, and stay tuned to IPL Star for more in-depth WPL 2026 coverage.
For more cricket updates, check our recent posts on WPL retention news. External sources: Sportstar report, Hindustan Times.
MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 1st match? Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) won by 3 wickets in a sensational last-ball thriller against Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) on January 9, 2026, at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.
2. What was the final score in MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 opener? MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026Mumbai Indians Women scored 154/6 in 20 overs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women chased down the target, finishing at 157/7 with one ball to spare.
3. Who was Player of the Match in MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026? Nadine de Klerk was named Player of the Match for her all-round masterclass: 63* off 44 balls and bowling figures of 4/26.
4. How did Nadine de Klerk win the match for RCB in WPL 2026? Coming in at 65/5, de Klerk played a match-winning unbeaten 63. MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 In the final over, needing 18 runs, she smashed Nat Sciver-Brunt for 6, 4, 6, 4 off the last four balls to seal a historic last-ball win.
5. What were the key highlights of RCB vs MI Women in WPL 2026? Explosive PowerPlay by Grace Harris, MI’s 82-run Sajana-Carey partnership, RCB’s middle-order collapse to 65/5, Lauren Bell’s debut spell, Amelia Kerr’s double-wicket over, and Nadine de Klerk’s final-over heroics made this WPL 2026 opener thriller unforgettable.
6. Did any records get broken in MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026? Yes – Nadine de Klerk’s 63* is the highest score from No. 6 or lower in WPL history. She also became only the second player (after Deepti Sharma) to score 50+ and take 4+ wickets in a WPL match. MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 The 18 runs scored in the final over ranks joint-third highest successfully chased in women’s T20 cricket.
7. Where was the MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 1st match played? MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 The match was held at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai – a venue known for balanced pitches and dew-assisted chases.
8. Who won the toss in MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026? Smriti Mandhana won the toss for RCBW and elected to bowl first, a decision that proved crucial due to early swing and later dew.
9. Where can I watch highlights of RCB vs MI Women WPL 2026 match? Official highlights are available on the WPL YouTube channel, JioCinema, Sports18, and platforms like Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo. MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 Search for “Nadine de Klerk last-ball win WPL 2026” for the iconic final over.
10. How does this result affect the WPL 2026 points table? RCBW start the season with 2 points and +0.150 NRR at the top of the table. MIW vs RCBW WPL 2026 Defending champions MIW sit second with 0 points and -0.150 NRR after the opening match.
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