De Klerk’s ice-cold finish powers RCB to historic WPL 2026 opening win over Mumbai

Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 63 and a dramatic final over helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru break their opening-match jinx against Mumbai Indians in WPL Season 4.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their Women’s Premier League 2026 campaign with a memorable three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the opening match at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. The victory was special as it marked RCB’s first-ever opening-match win over MI after losing to them in the first game of the last three seasons.

Chasing a target of 155, RCB were given a steady start by skipper Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris. The opening pair added 40 runs before both batters were dismissed in quick succession, triggering a collapse in the middle order. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Mumbai tightened their grip on the contest and appeared firmly in control for most of the chase.

Despite the pressure, Nadine de Klerk held one end together with remarkable composure. As partners came and went, she stayed at the crease, rotating strike smartly and picking boundaries when needed. Support came in the form of brief but vital contributions from Arundhati Reddy, who scored 20 runs, and Prema Rawat, who added a crucial eight.

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The match went down to the final over, with RCB needing 18 runs from six balls. With Prema Rawat at the non-striker’s end, de Klerk initially avoided risky singles. Facing Nat Sciver-Brunt, she turned the game on its head, smashing a six off the third ball, followed by a boundary on the fourth to bring up her half-century. Another six on the fifth delivery reduced the equation to two runs off the last ball, which she calmly dispatched for four to seal the win.

De Klerk finished unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls, hitting two sixes and seven fours, and delivered a match-winning innings that went far beyond just four deliveries. Her calm presence throughout the chase proved decisive.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians posted 154 after being asked to bat first by Mandhana, who won the toss and opted to bowl. While MI put up a competitive total, RCB’s disciplined bowling ensured the target remained within reach.

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This result not only gave RCB a winning start to WPL 2026 but also marked a significant psychological breakthrough against a team that had troubled them in previous opening encounters.