The fourth season of the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicked off in spectacular fashion at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on January 9, 2026. In a repeat of the 2024 final, the defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) faced off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a high-octane encounter that lived up to the hype, ending in a dramatic last-ball victory for the Bengaluru-based franchise.
Pre-Match Festivities
Before the first ball was bowled, a star-studded opening ceremony set the stage for the tournament. Performances by Bollywood sensation Jacqueline Fernandez, singer Yo Yo Honey Singh, and an inspiring appearance by former Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu captivated the capacity crowd. The atmosphere was electric as the two captains, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, walked out for the toss, marking the beginning of a month-long cricketing extravaganza.
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Mumbai Indians’ Innings: A Tale of Two Halves
After being put into bat by Smriti Mandhana, Mumbai Indians faced immediate pressure. England’s Lauren Bell set the tone for RCB with a masterful opening spell, starting with a maiden over. The pressure told early as the dangerous Amelia Kerr fell to Bell for just 4 runs within the powerplay.
Mumbai’s troubles deepened when Natalie Sciver-Brunt, the league’s all-time leading run-scorer, was smartly stumped by Richa Ghosh off the bowling of RCB debutant Nadine de Klerk for only 4. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20) and young G. Kamalini (32 off 28) attempted a recovery, but RCB’s bowlers remained disciplined. De Klerk struck again in her second spell to remove Harmanpreet, leaving MI struggling at the halfway mark.
However, the momentum shifted during a vital counter-attack by Sajeevan Sajana and Nicola Carey. Sajana, surviving two dropped chances, unleashed a series of powerful strokes, scoring a blistering 45 off 25 balls. Carey supported her brilliantly on her MI debut with a composed 40 off 29 balls. Together, they shared an 82-run partnership that powered Mumbai Indians to a competitive total of 154/6. Nadine de Klerk was the standout bowler for RCB, finishing with superb figures of 4/25.
The Chase: Early Momentum and Mid-Innings Wobble
Chasing 155, RCB started aggressively. Grace Harris signaled her intent by smashing a boundary off the very first ball of the innings, while Smriti Mandhana looked fluent in the powerplay. The pair moved the score to 54 before Mumbai’s bowlers fought back. Shabnim Ismail removed Mandhana for 18, and Sciver-Brunt dismissed Harris for a quickfire 25 off 12 balls.
Amelia Kerr then turned the game on its head with a double-strike in the 10th over, dismissing Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh in quick succession. At 75/5, RCB looked to be in serious trouble, but Nadine de Klerk remained at the crease.
The De Klerk Heist
Teaming up with Arundhati Reddy, de Klerk stabilized the innings. The duo added a crucial 50-run stand, with de Klerk using her feet effectively against the MI spinners. Nicola Carey broke the partnership in the 16th over by removing Reddy (20) and later dismissing Shreyanka Patil, leaving the tail to support de Klerk.
The 19th over was filled with chaos as de Klerk survived two dropped catches and a missed run-out opportunity. Despite the misses, RCB still required 18 runs from the final six balls. Facing the experienced Nat Sciver-Brunt, de Klerk played a legendary final over. After two dot balls, she smashed a six and a four to bring up her maiden WPL fifty. With the pressure at its peak, she finished the game in style with a 6, 4 sequence off the final two deliveries to seal a famous three-wicket win.
Summary and Impact
Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 63* off 44 balls, combined with her four-wicket haul, earned her an easy Player of the Match award. It was a dream debut that highlighted RCB’s depth and resilience. For the Mumbai Indians, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow given their dominant position in the middle overs and the late reprieve they gave to de Klerk.
The victory gives Royal Challengers Bengaluru an ideal start to their campaign, placing them at the top of the table with two points and a healthy net run rate of +0.150. As the tournament moves forward, this match will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most thrilling season openers in WPL history.
Brief Scores:
- Mumbai Indians: 154/6 in 20 overs (Sajeevan Sajana 45, Nicola Carey 40; Nadine de Klerk 4/25)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 157/7 in 20 overs (Nadine de Klerk 63*, Grace Harris 25; Amelia Kerr 2/13)
- Result: RCB won by 3 wickets.
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