WPL 2026: Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Women Highlights & Result – Match 1

Who won Mumbai Indians Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women clash in Women's Premier League 2026 Match 1 today? — Match result & turning points

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB W) kicked off the Women’s Premier League 2026 with a thrilling victory, winning by three wickets off the final ball, thanks to a brilliant half-century from Nadine de Klerk.

Mumbai Indians Women (MI W) posted 154/6 in their 20 overs, with Sajeevan Sajana contributing a quick 45 off 25 balls and Nicola Carey adding 40 from 29 deliveries. RCB’s De Klerk was exceptional with the ball, taking 4/26 to keep her team in the contest.

Chasing 155, RCB W got off to a strong start but lost momentum in the middle overs, losing wickets at regular intervals. However, De Klerk held her composure in the death overs, steering her side home and finishing unbeaten on 157/7 in 20 overs. For MI W, Carey took 2/35, while Amelia Kerr claimed 2/13, but it wasn’t enough to prevent RCB W from snatching a last-ball victory in a dramatic opener.

Top batting performances of the match — Nadine de Klerk

Nadine de Klerk was the standout batter of the match, displaying composure and patience as she took the game down to the final ball. She finished unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. De Klerk also forged a crucial 52-run partnership with Arundhati Reddy for the sixth wicket, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women to a thrilling victory in the season opener.

Top bowling performance of the match — Nadine de Klerk

Nadine de Klerk delivered a masterclass with the ball as well, finishing with outstanding figures of 4/26 in her four-over spell. She dismissed key batters including Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Nicola Carey, and Sajeevan Sajana, putting the brakes on Mumbai Indians Women’s innings and maintaining a strong grip on the match.

Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved

• Harmanpreet Kaur has surpassed Shafali Verma (865 runs) to become the leading Indian run-scorer in WPL history, amassing 871 runs.
• In a rare low, Nat Sciver-Brunt was dismissed for a single-figure score for the first time in her last 13 WPL innings.
• Amelia Kerr has become the highest wicket-taker in WPL, claiming 42 wickets so far.
• Kerr has also equaled Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues for the most outfield catches in WPL history.

Who was the Player of the Match?

Nadine de Klerk was named Player of the Match for her exceptional all-round performance. She took 4/26, dismissing key batters, and also scored an unbeaten 63 off 44 balls, a match-defining innings that guided RCB Women to victory. De Klerk became only the second player in WPL history to register a four-wicket haul and a half-century in the same match. Her 63* is also the highest score by a batter at No. 6 or lower in WPL history.

What is the next match?

Mumbai Indians Women will face Delhi Capitals Women on Saturday, January 10, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women will take on UP Warriorz Women on Monday, January 12, in Navi Mumbai.