The opening match of the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) set an electrifying tone for the season as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) snatched a dramatic three-wicket victory from the jaws of the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, on Friday. The hero of the night was South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, whose phenomenal performance with both bat and ball earned her the Player-of-the-Match award and secured a win that she admitted would take days to fully sink in.
De Klerk's Match-Winning Performance
Facing a target of 155 set by Mumbai Indians, RCB found themselves in a tense chase that went down to the final delivery. Nadine de Klerk emerged as the cool-headed finisher, remaining not out on a brilliant 63 runs off just 44 balls. Her innings was a masterclass in pressure batting, guiding her team home when it mattered most. Earlier, with the ball, she had been instrumental in restricting the powerful MI lineup, posting impressive bowling figures of 4 wickets for 26 runs in her allotted overs.
"It is probably going to take a couple of days for this to feel real," de Klerk said after the match. "If it is your day, you have to ensure you cash in. I'm just glad to get the win for the team." She credited her success to a simple philosophy of backing her skills. While bowling, she focused on execution and sticking to her strengths, acknowledging that on batting-friendly pitches, bowlers must seize their opportunities when they come.
Captain's Corner: Mandhana and Kaur React
RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana praised her team's never-say-die attitude and the monumental effort from de Klerk. "It was an absolute thriller. RCB are known for thrillers, and it was brilliant from Nadine to win us this game," Mandhana stated. She highlighted the team's positive mindset, even during difficult phases of the match, and lauded de Klerk for single-handedly shouldering responsibility in both the batting and bowling departments.
On the opposing side, Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur conceded that her bowlers were not at their best. "We just did not bowl one good ball at the crucial moments. This happens in cricket," Kaur reflected. She admitted that her side gave de Klerk chances, and the batter capitalized with a strong mindset. Kaur remained optimistic, noting that the WPL often produces such close contests and emphasized the need to improve in the next match.
Key Partnerships and Team Effort
While de Klerk was the standout star, she was quick to acknowledge the crucial support from her teammates during the chase. She specifically mentioned her strategy of taking the bulk of the strike towards the end and highlighted important partnerships that kept RCB in the game. She praised Arundhati Reddy (20 runs) for batting beautifully and noted that a couple of boundaries hit by Prema Rawat (8 not out) were also vital in the tense finale.
This victory gives RCB a powerful start to their WPL 2026 campaign, defeating the most successful team in the league's history. The match has set a high benchmark for excitement and competition, promising an enthralling season ahead for fans across India and the world.
