Royal Challengers Bengaluru have stormed into the playoffs of the Women's Premier League 2026. They achieved this feat with a convincing 61-run win against the Gujarat Giants on Monday. The Smriti Mandhana-led side remains unbeaten in the tournament.
RCB's Batting Power Shines Through
After being asked to bat first, RCB posted a competitive total of 178 runs for the loss of six wickets. Gujarat Giants started well by taking early wickets. However, they could not maintain the pressure.
Gautami Naik played a brilliant knock of 73 runs. She received solid support from Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav. Their partnership helped RCB build a strong foundation and accelerate in the later overs.
Gujarat Giants' Chase Falls Apart
Chasing 179 runs, the Gujarat innings collapsed early. They lost three key wickets with just five runs on the board. Big names like Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, and Kanika Ahuja were dismissed cheaply.
Captain Ash Gardner fought a lone battle, scoring 54 runs. But wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. The team could only manage 117 runs for eight wickets in their 20 overs. Sayali Satghare was the standout bowler for RCB, claiming three crucial wickets.
Updated WPL 2026 Points Table and Standings
This victory solidifies RCB's position at the top of the points table. They have won all five of their matches so far. With 10 points and a strong net run rate, they have become the first team to qualify for the playoffs.
The race for the remaining three playoff spots is now wide open. Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants all have four points each from five matches. Mumbai Indians currently hold a slight advantage due to a better net run rate.
Delhi Capitals find themselves at the bottom of the table. They have just two points from four matches and face an uphill battle to stay in contention.
Orange Cap and Purple Cap Leaders
In the individual performance charts, UP Warriorz's Phoebe Litchfield leads the run-scoring list. She is closely followed by Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has 199 runs. Meg Lanning of UP Warriorz is third with 193 runs.
Smriti Mandhana of RCB and Ash Gardner of Gujarat Giants occupy the fourth and fifth positions respectively. They have 192 and 191 runs to their names.
Among the bowlers, RCB's Nadine de Klerk tops the wicket-takers list with 10 scalps. Amelia Kerr of Mumbai Indians also has 10 wickets. Lauren Bell from RCB is third with nine wickets. Nandni Sharma of Delhi Capitals and Sophie Devine of Gujarat Giants round off the top five, each with nine wickets.
The Women's Premier League 2026 continues to deliver thrilling cricket. All eyes are now on the intense competition for the remaining playoff berths.
