Vadodara’s BCA Stadium set the stage for an electrifying Women’s Premier League 2026 showdown as Gujarat Giants captain Ashley Gardner called correctly at the toss, choosing to bowl against red-hot Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This 12th league match promised fireworks, with debutant Happy Kumari stepping into the spotlight alongside returning star Anushka Sharma.
Gardner elaborated on her tactics: ‘The pitch feels familiar, like our home turf, boosted by fan energy. RCB’s support is huge, but we’ve made smart changes—Anushka’s back from injury, Happy debuts. Batters must capitalize on this batting paradise. Early breakthroughs will pave our path to victory.’
Mandhana, steering an unchanged RCB side, radiated calm assurance. ‘New players shine each outing,’ she said. ‘One match at a time with our vibrant team.’ RCB’s purple patch features four consecutive triumphs: a thrilling 3-wicket chase against Mumbai Indians, a 9-wicket demolition of UP Warriors, a 32-run thumping of Gujarat Giants, and an 8-wicket rout of Delhi Capitals, cementing their top spot.
Giants, third-placed with a 2-2 record, bounced back from defeats to MI (7 wickets) and RCB (32 runs) with gritty wins—10 runs over UP Warriors and 4 runs against Delhi Capitals. They’re hungry to climb.
Playing elevens:
Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney†, Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Kanika Ahuja, Ashley Gardner*, Georgia Wareham, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwar, Happy Kumari, Renuka Singh Thakur.
RCB: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana*, Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh†, Gautami Naik, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Lauren Bell.
With momentum on the line, this battle could reshape the standings—stay tuned for live updates.
