In a high-stakes clash at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to field first against UP Warriors in the 18th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. This decision comes as RCB, already qualified for the playoffs after a blistering start with five straight wins, looks to bounce back from two consecutive defeats.
RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana, at the toss, exuded confidence. ‘We’re bowling first. It’s a good batting track, but we’ve done a lot right in those initial five wins. Let’s keep it simple. One change today – Pooja Vastrakar comes in for Gautami Naik,’ she declared.
On the other side, UP Warriors captain Meg Lanning faces immense pressure. Her side, languishing in fifth place with just one win from six games, desperately needs a victory to keep playoff hopes alive. ‘We have to win every game now. Nothing to lose. We’ve used the break to fix our weaknesses,’ Lanning said, announcing changes: Amy Jones replaces Lichfield, and Simran Sheikh steps in for Navgire.
The Warriors have rung in major changes, appointing Abhishek Nair as head coach and handing the captaincy to Lanning over Deepti Sharma. Yet, results haven’t turned. In the points table, Gujarat Giants lead second with four wins from seven, while Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals hold third and fourth with three each. All remain in playoff contention.
UP Warriors Playing XI: Meg Lanning (c), Simran Sheikh, Amy Jones (wk), Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud.
RCB Playing XI: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (wk), Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell.
As the match unfolds, RCB’s bowlers will aim to exploit early conditions, while UP Warriors batters must fire to salvage their campaign. Stay tuned for live updates.