The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 couldn’t have asked for a more electric start, as Mumbai Indians Women (MIW) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) locked horns in a match packed with drama, momentum swings, and star power at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 9, 2026. Cricket fans were treated not only to a riveting contest but also to a glitzy opening ceremony that set the tone for a season brimming with promise.
Before a ball was bowled, the stadium buzzed with anticipation. Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz Sandhu inspired the crowd with a speech on women’s impact in society, followed by Bollywood’s Jacqueline Fernandez lighting up the stage with her dance troupe. The energy peaked when Yo Yo Honey Singh, clad in all-black, belted out hits like ‘Millionaire,’ ‘Blue Eyes,’ and ‘Lungi Dance,’ even featuring WPL captains Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur in a special segment. If the spectacle was any indicator, the cricket was bound to match the entertainment.
Once the festivities wrapped, focus shifted to the field. RCBW captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that seemed justified as her bowlers came out firing. Lauren Bell’s opening spell was tight and probing—she conceded just one run in her first two overs and removed Amelia Kerr for 4, setting the tone for RCBW’s early dominance. MIW’s top order struggled to find rhythm, and by the time Nat Sciver-Brunt was stumped off Nadine de Klerk for just 4, the defending champions looked wobbly at 35 for 2.
G Kamalini, however, offered resistance with a composed 32 off 28 balls, peppered with five crisp boundaries. She found support from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed a brisk 20 before falling to de Klerk’s clever bowling. At 67 for 4, MIW seemed in deep trouble—RCBW’s bowlers, especially de Klerk, were dictating terms with discipline and guile.
But cricket has a way of flipping the script, and that’s precisely what unfolded in the latter half of MIW’s innings. Enter Sajeevan Sajana and Nicola Carey, who orchestrated a stunning fightback. The pair added a game-changing 82 runs for the fifth wicket off just 49 balls, swinging the pendulum back in MIW’s favor. Sajana played a fiery knock, smashing 45 off 25 balls with seven boundaries and a six, while Carey’s 40 from 29 balls ensured the scoreboard kept ticking. Their partnership not only rescued MIW from a precarious position but also gave their bowlers something meaningful to defend.
RCBW’s bowlers felt the pressure during this phase, with Radha Yadav and Arundhati Reddy conceding boundaries under the onslaught. Still, Nadine de Klerk emerged as RCBW’s standout performer, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 26 in her four overs. She dismissed both Sajana and Carey in the final over, limiting MIW to 154 for 6—a total that looked competitive, if not imposing, on a lively surface.
As the chase began, RCBW’s openers looked to seize the initiative. Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris provided a brisk start, with Mandhana stroking a fluent 18 and Harris blazing her way to 25 off just 12 balls, including three fours and a six in a single over from Carey. The opening partnership threatened to take the game away from MIW, but Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt struck back, removing both openers and slowing the run flow.
Wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. Dayalan Hemalatha was trapped lbw by Amanjot Kaur, and Radha Yadav’s lack of footwork saw her bowled by Amelia Kerr. Richa Ghosh, a dangerous middle-order hitter, fell to a sensational catch by Carey at the long-off boundary. By the 12th over, RCBW were reeling at 82 for 5, with the required run rate climbing and pressure mounting.
Still, RCBW refused to go down without a fight. Arundhati Reddy and Nadine de Klerk launched a gritty counterattack, rotating the strike and finding boundaries to keep their team in the hunt. Reddy’s 20 off 25 balls and de Klerk’s calm presence at the crease saw the equation reduced to 38 runs needed from the final four overs. The tension was palpable—could RCBW pull off a late heist?
The answer hung in the balance as Nicola Carey returned for a crucial spell. She delivered a double-wicket over, first removing Reddy with a low full toss caught at deep mid-wicket, then bowling Shreyanka Patil. RCBW slumped to 121 for 7, needing 34 runs from the last 18 balls. The match teetered on a knife’s edge, with de Klerk left to shepherd the tail and MIW’s bowlers tightening the screws.
As the final overs played out, every run and wicket drew roars from the crowd. RCBW’s hopes rested on de Klerk, who stood tall with an unbeaten 36 off 33 balls, but with wickets tumbling and the required rate escalating, the task grew tougher. MIW’s bowlers, led by Carey and Kerr, held their nerve under pressure, executing their plans with precision. The fielding was sharp, the atmosphere electric, and the stakes sky-high.
While the match was still ongoing at last update, the contest had already delivered on its promise of high-octane, edge-of-the-seat cricket. The opening ceremony’s glamour was matched by the grit and flair on the field. With both teams featuring World Cup-winning stars—Mandhana, Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur—and overseas aces like Sciver-Brunt, Carey, Harris, and de Klerk, the WPL 2026 opener showcased the depth of talent and competitive spirit in women’s cricket.
Notably, RCBW were without their star Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who withdrew for personal reasons despite being retained. Her absence was keenly felt, but it also gave others a chance to shine in the spotlight. The match, broadcast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar, drew fans from across the country, eager to witness the dawn of a new WPL season.
As the night wore on and the contest reached its climax, one thing was certain: the WPL 2026 had announced itself in style. With the crowd on its feet and both teams battling for supremacy, the opening match had set the bar high for the weeks to come. Whether MIW would defend their total or RCBW would pull off a thrilling chase remained to be seen, but the excitement and quality on display left fans hungry for more.
