Royal Challengers Bengaluru have redefined dominance in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, clinching a record-extending sixth league stage win to book their finals ticket. The Vadodara showdown against UP Warriors saw RCB cruise to an eight-wicket victory with a whopping 41 balls remaining, underscoring their unchallenged supremacy.
Reflecting on their chase prowess, RCB had previously hunted down targets against UP Warriors (47 balls spare this season) and Gujarat Giants (45 balls in 2024 Bengaluru). Six triumphs from eight outings not only shattered records but also tied RCB with past powerhouses like Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, all with six league wins apiece.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana’s unbeaten 54 from 27 deliveries – laced with eight boundaries and a brace of sixes – was the standout act. She now ranks second for RCB in most fifties, trailing only Alyssa Healy’s eight, while Richa Ghosh sits at five.
UP Warriors’ innings folded at 143 for eight after opting to set a target. Deepti Sharma’s gritty 55 and Meg Lanning’s 41 provided some resistance, but Nadine de Klerk’s four-wicket haul dismantled them.
RCB’s response was electric: Grace Harris’s explosive 75 off minimal balls complemented Mandhana’s anchor role, wrapping up the chase in 13.1 overs. As the final looms on February 5, RCB’s blend of experience and aggression makes them the team to beat in WPL 2026.
