Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are back in action in the ongoing WPL 2026 as they gear up to face Meg Lanning’s UP Warriorz (UPW) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, on January 12.
RCB began their campaign with a thrilling win over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), courtesy of a brilliant all-round performance from Nadine de Klerk. The South African all-rounder delivered under pressure with both the bat and ball to guide her team to victory. Star pacer Lauren Bell also had an impressive outing, troubling batters with her in-swingers and out-swingers with the new ball and providing a crucial early breakthrough.
In contrast, UPW put up a strong fight against Gujarat Giants (GG) while chasing a massive 208-run target, but eventually fell short by just 10 runs. Phoebe Litchfield looked in supreme touch with the bat, but UPW’s new era under skipper Meg Lanning and head coach Abhishek Nayar began with a defeat.
For UPW, the priority will be to avoid back-to-back losses early in the tournament. For RCB, the focus will be on carrying forward their winning momentum. Two wins in two games would put RCB in a strong position in the playoff qualification race.
Head-to-Head in WPL
Overall: 6 matches – RCB 3, UPW 3 (UPW won one game in 2025 via Super Over)
At DY Patil Stadium: 1 match – RCB 1, UPW 0
RCB record at DY Patil Stadium: 4 matches – Won 2, Lost 2
UPW record at DY Patil Stadium: 6 matches – Won 2, Lost 4
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Players to watch out for
RCB – Nadine de Klerk
During the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, Nadine de Klerk proved her value on several occasions with both the bat and ball, whether in India or Sri Lanka. In the WPL 2026 opener, it looked like that World Cup form continued. She played a key role in RCB’s win almost single-handedly.
With the ball, the Proteas all-rounder picked up four wickets. With the bat, she stayed calm despite losing partners regularly at the other end. She trusted herself, took the game deep, and finished it in style in the final over, remaining unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls at a strike rate of 143.18. Once again, her cutters and slower deliveries are expected to be crucial.
UPW – Asha Sobhana
This WPL season presents a huge opportunity for leg-spinner Asha Sobhana to make a strong case for a return to the Indian team. After a long layoff due to a knee injury, she made her comeback in domestic cricket ahead of this season. In the first match against GG, she showed glimpses of her potential.
With the ball, Asha did not have the best outing. She went wicketless in three overs and conceded runs at an economy of 12.00. However, it was her batting that surprised everyone. She remained unbeaten on 27 off 10 balls, striking at 270.00, including three boundaries and two sixes. Her clean hitting left fans stunned and played a major role in ensuring UPW lost by only 10 runs, limiting the damage to their Net Run Rate.
For Asha, the primary focus will remain on her bowling. But if she continues to contribute impactful cameos down the order, she could strengthen her case for an India comeback. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled in England, India would value a quality leg-spinner, and eyes will be firmly on Asha.
Probable Playing XIs
RCB
Smriti Mandhana (C), Grace Harris, D Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh (WK), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
UPW
Meg Lanning (C), Kiran Navgire, Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat (WK), Deandra Dottin, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Kranti Gaud, Shikha Pandey.
Also Read: DC vs GG, WPL 2026: Jemimah’s DC look for quick turnaround as GG eye second straight win
