Title: Thrilling Opener of WPL 2026 – RCB Steals Win Against Mumbai Indians in a Last-Ball Classic
Introduction: A Spectacle to Remember
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 began with an absolute blockbuster at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on 9 January, 2026, when Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB) edged out defending champions Mumbai Indians Women (MI) in one of the most dramatic finishes in recent WPL history. The match, which saw twists and turns at every stage, culminated in a last-ball victory — a spectacle that set the tone for what promises to be a riveting tournament.
Match Overview
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Date: 9 January 2026
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Venue: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
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Toss: Mumbai Indians Women won the toss and elected to bat
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Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women won by 3 wickets on the final ball
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Player of the Match: Nadine de Klerk (RCB)
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Scores: MI Women – 154/6 (20 overs)
RCB Women – 157/7 (20 overs)
This match was more than an opener — it was an advertisement for women’s cricket, showcasing power-hitting, tactical depth, nerve-shredding finishes, and performance under pressure.
First Innings: MI Set a Competitive Total
MI’s Batting Strategy
Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, came into the match with intent. Choosing to bat first was a tactical decision aimed at exploiting early batting conditions and putting runs on the board to apply pressure. MI’s strategy was clear — a strong opening partnership, consolidation in the middle overs, and maximum scoring in the death overs.
Top Performers for MI
Despite setbacks, MI posted a respectable total of 154/6. Their innings was a blend of stability and aggression.
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Sajana (Sajeevan Sajana): 45 runs — The anchor of the MI innings, Sajana played a responsible and composed innings, steering the team through a period of early wickets.
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Nicola Carey: 40 runs — Complemented Sajana with intelligent shot selection, particularly exploiting the middle overs with singles and strategic boundaries.
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Harmanpreet Kaur: 20 runs — The MI captain started briskly but couldn’t convert into a bigger score.
Key Turning Points in the MI Innings
MI’s innings started promisingly but was punctuated by crucial RCB breakthroughs:
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Early pressure from RCB bowlers, especially Nadine de Klerk, gave RCB an edge by breaking partnerships at important moments.
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Carey and Sajana’s partnership was pivotal, steadying MI after early losses and giving them momentum going into the death overs.
Despite a lively finish, MI couldn’t accelerate beyond 154, which, as it turned out, was just below par in the eventual context of the chase.
RCB’s Bowling Performance
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling was a blend of control and strategic variation.
Standout Bowlers
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Nadine de Klerk: 4 wickets — A spectacular bowling performance; de Klerk’s ability to pick up key wickets stemmed MI’s momentum and gave RCB early breakthroughs.
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Other Bowlers: While de Klerk was the standout, the rest of the bowling unit maintained pressure through disciplined line and length, preventing MI from exploding in the death overs.
The RCB bowlers conceded a total of 154 but kept MI’s big hitters in check, a decision that ultimately helped RCB defend a modest score in their chase.
Second Innings: RCB Chase with Dogged Resilience
The Chase Begins
Chasing 155, RCB knew they needed a solid start to build confidence and mitigate pressure. The chase kicked off with ambitions of quick runs, but MI’s bowlers kept things tight.
Early Overs and RCB’s Struggles
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Mandhana and Harris: RCB’s openers showed intent but were dismissed in the powerplay, putting RCB on the back foot early.
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MI’s bowling discipline at the top overs meant RCB had to rebuild under pressure — a key strategic phase where the match could have swung entirely in MI’s favor.
The Turning Point: De Klerk’s All-Round Brilliance
Enter Nadine de Klerk, whose performance rewrote the narrative of this match. In a display of sheer composure and audacity, she delivered one of the best all-round efforts in WPL history.
De Klerk’s Batting Heroics
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63 not out off 44 balls — A match-winning knock balanced with calculated aggression and calm under pressure.
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Her innings was pivotal in steadying the chase after early setbacks and propelling RCB closer to the target.
Key Partnership: De Klerk & Arundhati Reddy
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The 52-run partnership with Arundhati Reddy provided structure and confidence to the chase. Reddy’s support role allowed de Klerk the freedom to accelerate.
Final Overs: Last-Ball Thriller
With 18 runs needed off the final over, RCB were under immense pressure. But de Klerk’s composure was supreme — critical boundaries and smart running ensured RCB stayed within sight of victory.
The climax came on the last ball of the match where RCB needed just 2 runs — and they got them. A boundary sealed a sensational chase, culminating in an electrifying finish that had fans on their feet and commentators in awe.
Tactical and Strategic Analysis
MI’s Tactical Choices
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Choosing to bat first was tactically sound but required higher scoring or more impactful partnerships.
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MI’s middle order struggled to convert starts into big scores — limiting their total to a chaseable 154.
RCB’s Smart Chase Management
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Despite early setbacks, RCB’s flexible strategy to rebuild with Reddy and de Klerk was exemplary.
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De Klerk’s dual role as a game-changer in bowling and batting highlighted her immense value and execution under pressure.
Player Performance Awards
Player of the Match: Nadine de Klerk
De Klerk was rightly awarded Player of the Match for her outstanding all-round performance — 63 runs not out and 4 wickets — single-handedly turning the match in RCB’s favor.
Notable Mentions
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Sajana (MI): Anchored MI’s innings with responsible batting.
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Nicola Carey: Valuable lower-middle contribution to MI.
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Arundhati Reddy (RCB): Important partnership with de Klerk in the chase.
Fan Reactions and Media Coverage
Social media erupted with praise for the thrilling finish, the quality of cricket on display, and particularly de Klerk’s standout performance. Fans highlighted the dramatic swings, deep bowling spells, and excellence under pressure — hallmarks that make T20 cricket electrifying.
What This Means for the 2026 WPL Standings
With this win — the opening match of WPL 2026 — RCB take early momentum and require consistency to stay atop the early standings. MI, despite the loss, showcased potential with their batting and bowling depth — suggesting they can bounce back effectively.
Historical Context
Comparing past seasons of WPL shows how competitive the league has evolved. Previous campaigns saw dominant performances from teams like Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals — often decided by tactical nous and player brilliance. The 2026 opener has already set a higher benchmark for thrilling drama and performance excellence.
Conclusion: A Match That Set the Standard
Yesterday’s WPL match wasn’t just a game — it was an enthralling battle featuring:
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Brilliant tactical play
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All-round brilliance from key performers
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High-pressure finishing
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A last-ball victory that delivered maximum excitement
From MI’s structured batting innings to RCB’s indomitable chase, this match will be remembered as one of the unforgettable openers in WPL history. With the tournament still in its infancy, fans can expect more riveting clashes ahead — and yesterday’s match proved that women’s cricket is delivering big moments night after night.
