Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Giants Highlights WPL 2026: Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav Star As RCB Down Gujarat Giants To Remain Unbeaten

Well, well. Things are heating up in the 2026 season of the WPL and after a stutter from Mumbai Indians and also Gujarat Giants, it is Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who take the lead at the top of the table and are the first to 3 wins. Next up, we have the final round of fixtures in Navi Mumbai coming up on a double-header Saturday. On the 17th of January, it will be UP Warriorz taking on Mumbai Indians in the first reverse fixture of the season beginning at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT). After that, it will be Delhi Capitals taking on the high-flying Royal Challengers Bengaluru beginning at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can join us a lot sooner for the build-up as usual. Cheers!

RADHA YADAV is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her maiden and crucial half century in the WPL. Yadav says that she enjoyed herself out there in the middle and feels that the conversation with Richa Ghosh was crucial as the situation was a difficult one. Lauds Ghosh for instilling confidence in her and backing her abilities. Mentions that she middled the first ball and she felt that she could play a good knock as she has done so in the past for the India A side. Adds that the coaches backed her to go big and ends up also applauding the efforts of Shreyanka Patil with the ball.

Smriti Mandhana, the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, says the partnership between Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh was special to watch. Reckons that Yadav has played this role for her state, Baroda and also for India A. Everyone thinks of her as a finisher but she plays well in top of the order. Further says you don't know about the dew much here but they have variety in the bowling unit, they had confidence but couldn't be overconfident with the conditions here. Admits that they dropped a couple of catches and they have a lot of pride and standards in terms of their fielding. Feels there are still a lot of places they could improve.

Let's now recap what happened earlier in the game. Ashleigh Gardner won the toss for the first time this season and gladly opted to bowl first, also a first for GG. It quickly turned out to be the right decision as GG had RCB reeling at 43/4. With the likes of Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana back in the hut, a lot was riding on the shoulders of Richa Ghosh and she didn't disappoint. However, it was Radha Yadav who actually turned the game on its head, as after getting set, she found the fence with regularity and took all the pressure off Ghosh, who was going great guns herself. Yadav ended up scoring a maiden WPL half-century and Nadine De Klerk applied the finishing touches to propel RCB over 180 runs. As for GG, Kashvee Gautam was the chief architect in the Powerplay but Sophie Devine was the one who picked up 3 wickets and was economical as well. Renuka Singh Thakur on the other hand went for plenty and the likes of Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Tanuja Kanwer weren't even used with the ball.

The player of the moment, Shreyanka Patil, is now having a chat with the on-air commentators. Patil says that without Radha Yadav's innings, they wouldn't have that many runs to defend and applauds the partnership between Radha and Richa Ghosh. Also mentions that the total on the board gave them confidence and they always knew that the dew would come into effect but is really happier with her first five-wicket haul. Adds that it has been a roller-coaster of a ride, especially after having missed last season but she's gotten out of it well thanks to her family and the coaches and says that she loves cricket and can't stay home and just watch the game. Further adds that the coaches backed her to keep things simple and bowl those arm-balls and even jokes about Smriti Mandhana mentioning to her that she has to get all the left-handers in the opposition out.

Gujarat Giants skipper, Ashleigh Gardner, says they were happy to bowl first after winning the toss. They thought there was a lot in the wicket, but they fed to Radha Yadav's strength, and things got away from them. Tells that 180 was still gettable, but their top order failed to score. Acknowledges that conditions dictate the game and they have been scoring runs recently but hopes to assess the conditions quickly in Vadodara. Admits that one of the top five needs to bat till the 15th over as they back the local girls to play a big part. Mentions that it is a quick turnaround, they have to be present as the games come thick and fast. There are plenty of positives to take from the last two games.

A second-successive loss for Gujarat Giants but there were plenty of positives for them. They bowled really well in the Powerplay and then, that inexperienced middle order also stepped up when their highly touted top-order failed. Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner will take most of the responsibility and Beth Mooney will once again feel that she got in and then just gave it away. But the way Bharti Fulmali batted along with the likes of Kashvee Gautam and Tanuja Kanwer, will certainly give GG a lot of hope for the future. Let's now hear from the Giants' skipper...

RCB were 43/4 at one point in their innnings but they ended up posting 182 and it was the middle order that needed a big showing and it did. With the ball, Lauren Bell yet again set things up nicely in the Powerplay. However, it was Arundhati Reddy who got the initial breakthrough with some splendid catching off her own bowling and then Shreyanka Patil and Lauren Bell followed it up with wickets of their own. RCB seemed to be well in control of the game when GG were 70/5 but then came the lapses in the field. Multiple catches were dropped and they allowed GG back into the game but Bell came back in and got the big wicket of Bharti Fulmali, after which Patil finished things off in style.

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