Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have won the toss and chosen to bowl first against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the inaugural match of the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. This season marks the first time the WPL is being held in the January-February period. RCB’s skipper, Smriti Mandhana, revealed their overseas players for the match as Grace Harris, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, and Nadine de Klerk.
Dew is a significant factor at this venue, particularly in the latter part of the game, where conditions can rapidly change. Mandhana emphasized the importance of bowling tightly early on to contain the opposition. She expressed satisfaction with the team’s cohesion, especially highlighting the seamless integration of overseas players and the positive team environment. The team is eager to kick off the season.
On the other hand, MI, the reigning champions, will miss all-rounder Hayley Matthews due to illness, leading to a new opening pair of Nat Sciver-Brunt and G. Kamalini. MI’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, mentioned that they were also inclined to bowl first due to the expected dew factor later in the game. Despite this, Kaur expressed confidence in the team’s preparation over the past ten days and the balanced squad they have maintained over the last few seasons.
