Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) began their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 campaign in dramatic fashion, pulling off a sensational three-wicket victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), courtesy of an extraordinary all-round performance by Nadine de Klerk. The South African star smashed 20 runs in the final over, sealing a nerve-wracking win at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and setting the tone for what promises to be another blockbuster WPL season.
The much-hyped clash between RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana and MI captain Harmanpreet Kaur, coming months after India’s maiden Women’s World Cup triumph, lived up to expectations as fans were treated to a full-fledged thriller on opening night.
Smriti Mandhana: “RCB Are Known to Play Thrillers”
Speaking after the match, Smriti Mandhana admitted that nail-biting finishes seem to have become synonymous with RCB.
“I think for the first match of the WPL, it was a thriller. And RCB are known to play thrillers. Last year, we were on the receiving end of these matches, so happy that we pulled it off,” Mandhana said.
She lauded Nadine de Klerk for her calmness under pressure and highlighted the positive atmosphere in the dressing room even when the match seemed to be slipping away.
“Even when things were not going well, everyone was pretty positive. We were having a laugh, and that really helped,” she added.
Mandhana also recalled de Klerk’s memorable innings against India during last year’s World Cup in Visakhapatnam, where the all-rounder had guided South Africa to a stunning chase from a precarious position.
“We had seen her do this against us in the World Cup. When she got dropped today, we just hoped she would make MI pay – and she did,” Mandhana said with a smile.
De Klerk Creates WPL History
Named Player of the Match, Nadine de Klerk delivered one of the finest individual performances in WPL history. She finished with figures of 4/26 with the ball and followed it up with a breathtaking 63 off 44 balls*, striking seven fours and two sixes.
With this performance, de Klerk became only the second player in WPL history, after Deepti Sharma, to score a half-century and take four wickets in the same match.
Reflecting on her innings, de Klerk said patience and belief were key.
“I was frustrated at the start. I was seven off 12 balls, but T20 cricket is about staying in the fight. These grounds are good for batting, so if you give yourself a chance, you can cash in,” she said.
She added that the “never give up” mindset helped her turn the innings around, as she blasted 56 runs off her next 32 deliveries after a slow start.
MI Fight Back After Early Collapse
After opting to bat first, Mumbai Indians were rocked early and reduced to 67/4. However, a crucial 82-run partnership between S Sajana (45 off 25 balls) and Nicola Carey (40 off 29 balls) steadied the innings and lifted MI to a competitive 154/6.
RCB’s bowlers kept things tight throughout, with Lauren Bell (1/14) and Nadine de Klerk (4/26) delivering disciplined spells that prevented MI from accelerating in the death overs.
RCB Chase: From Collapse to Classic Finish
RCB’s chase began explosively, with Grace Harris (25 off 12) and Smriti Mandhana (18 off 13) putting together a brisk 40-run opening stand. However, MI spinner Amelia Kerr (2/13) turned the match on its head, reducing RCB to 65/5 and swinging momentum firmly in MI’s favour.
Just when the chase seemed to be slipping away, de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy (20 off 25) stitched together a vital 52-run partnership to keep RCB in contention.
The final over produced pure drama. With 18 runs required, de Klerk faced Nat Sciver-Brunt and, after two dot balls, unleashed a stunning sequence of 6, 4, 6, 4, sending the RCB dugout into wild celebrations. Prema Rawat (8 off 4 balls)* chipped in with a brief but handy cameo to finish the job.
A Statement Win for RCB
The thrilling victory not only gave RCB a perfect start to their WPL 2026 campaign but also sent a strong message to the rest of the competition. Having endured heartbreaks in close matches last season, RCB finally found themselves on the right side of a classic, with Nadine de Klerk emerging as the undisputed hero of the night.
