WPL 2026 Match 16: Royal Challers Bengaluru Women vs Mumbai Indians Women Preview

Match Details

• Date: January 26, 2026 (Monday)
• Venue: Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
• Time: 14:00 GMT | 19:30 IST

Match Context

This highly anticipated clash between Royal Challers Bengaluru Women and Mumbai Indians Women in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 is set to be a defining moment in the tournament. Bengaluru, already secured in the playoff picture, will look to maintain their dominance, while Mumbai Indians, on a three-game losing streak, will be desperate to turn their fortunes around.

Royal Challers Bengaluru Women

• Form & Motivation: With a playoff berth already secured, Bengaluru can afford to play with freedom and focus on securing the top spot. A win here will put them in a commanding position for the final.
• Key Players:
  • Smriti Mandhana: The captain and leading run-scorer of the tournament, Mandhana has been in scintillating form, averaging 46 with a strike rate of 134.5 in six matches.
  • Grace Harris: A destructive middle-order batter who can change the momentum of the game with her aggressive stroke play.
  • Lauren Bell: One of the most consistent bowlers in the tournament, Bell has taken nine wickets at an economy of just 5.75.

Mumbai Indians Women

• Form & Motivation: Mumbai have lost their last three games and are now in a must-win scenario to keep their playoff hopes alive. A strong performance from both bat and bowl is crucial.
• Key Players:
  • Nat Sciver-Brunt: A dual threat with both bat and ball. She has scored 219 runs in five games and taken seven wickets at an average of 24.
  • Amelia Kerr: The star all-rounder who has been Mumbai’s most dangerous bowler, picking up ten wickets at an average of just 14.7.
  • Harmanpreet Kaur: The captain and experienced leader, Kaur is vital for stabilizing the innings and setting a competitive total.

Head-to-Head Record (Last 5 Matches)

• Mumbai Indians: 1 win
• Royal Challers Bengaluru: 4 wins

Bengaluru have been the stronger side in recent encounters, and their confidence will be high as they look to continue this trend.

Venue Stats (Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – T20s 2022-2026)

• Average 1st Innings Score (2025): 155.83
• Average 1st Innings Score (2026): 148.50
• Win Percentage:
  • Batting First: 20%
  • Batting Second: 80%

The Kotambi Stadium has historically favored chasing teams, making it a crucial factor in the match strategy.

Key Stats & Insights

• Smriti Mandhana has scored over 50 in 40% of her WPL innings. A big score from her could be a game-changer.
• Lauren Bell has a 18% chance of taking 3+ wickets in any given match.
• Amelia Kerr is the joint-top wicket-taker in the tournament and has an average of 14.7.
• Grace Harris averages a boundary every 5 balls, making her a potent force in the middle.
• Nat Sciver-Brunt is a versatile all-rounder who can influence the game from both ends.

Team Squads

Royal Challers Bengaluru Women:

• Smriti Mandhana (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Lauren Bell, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Linsey Smith, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Kumar Prathyoosha.

Mumbai Indians Women:

• Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Gunalan Kamalini (wk), Rahila Firdous (wk), Poonam Khemnar, Hayley Matthews, Milly Illingworth, Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sajeevan Sajana, Nicola Carey, Sanskriti Gupta, Saika Ishaque, Shabnim Ismail, Kranthi Reddy, Triveni Vasistha.

Pre-Play Predictions

• Toss Winner: Mumbai Indians
• Match Winner: Royal Challers Bengaluru
• Top Batsmen:
  • Smriti Mandhana (RCB)
  • Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI)
• Top Bowlers:
  • Lauren Bell (RCB)
  • Amelia Kerr (MI)
• Most Sixes:
  • Grace Harris (RCB)
  • Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI)
• Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana (RCB)
• Predicted Team Scores:
  • Royal Challers Bengaluru: 165+
  • Mumbai Indians: 155+

Final Thoughts

With Bengaluru already in the playoffs and playing at home, they are expected to be the stronger side. However, Mumbai Indians will not go down without a fight, and if their key players deliver, they could pull off a surprise. The Kotambi Stadium’s nature to favor chasing teams could play a pivotal role in the outcome.

This is a must-watch encounter for WPL fans, with the potential for high-scoring action and individual brilliance on display.
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