The Vadodara leg of the ongoing WPL 2026 is set to begin on January 19, with table-toppers and the only unbeaten side so far, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), taking on Gujarat Giants (GG). Smriti Mandhana’s RCB dominated the Navi Mumbai leg with a perfect record of four wins from four matches. As a unit, they have performed consistently, with several players stepping up whenever the situation demanded.
For GG, the campaign began with two back-to-back narrow wins, but they then suffered two consecutive defeats. Their over-dependence on overseas players has been evident, as in both victories, the standout performances came from captain Ashleigh Gardner with the bat, along with all-round contributions from Georgia Wareham and Sophie Devine.
The big question now is whether they can make a fresh start in Vadodara, and that too against an in-form RCB side. Interestingly, at the Kotambi Stadium in the previous edition, these two teams faced each other, and RCB emerged victorious in a high-scoring clash, successfully chasing down a massive 202-run target.
Standings
Gujarat Giants: 3rd position, 4 matches – 2 wins, 2 losses, 4 points, NRR -0.319
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1st position, 4 matches – 4 wins, 8 points, NRR +1.600
Head-to-head record in the WPL
Overall: 7 matches – GG 3, RCB 4
At Kotambi Stadium: 1 match – GG 0, RCB 1
GG record at Kotambi Stadium: 3 matches – Won 1, Lost 2
RCB record at Kotambi Stadium: 2 matches – Won 2
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What happened in the first meeting of this edition?
Batting first, RCB suffered a disastrous start and were reduced to 43/4. Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh then added 105 runs for the fifth wicket to stabilise the innings. Richa scored 44 off 28 balls, while Radha registered her maiden WPL fifty with a 66 off 47. Nadine de Klerk also chipped in with a quick 26 off 12 as RCB finished on 182/7 in 20 overs. For GG, Sophie Devine starred with three wickets, while Kashvee Gautam picked up two. Georgia Wareham and Renuka Singh Thakur claimed one wicket each.
In reply, GG also suffered a collapse and were reduced to 70/5. Bharti Fulmali (39 off 20) and Kashvee Gautam (18 off 14) added 56 runs for the sixth wicket, followed by a brisk 21-run contribution from Tanuja Kanwar. However, GG were eventually bowled out for 150 in 18.5 overs, losing the match by 32 runs. For RCB, Shreyanka Patil bagged a fifer along with three wickets from Lauren Bell. Radha Yadav was named Player of the Match.
Players to watch out for
GG – Bharti Fulmali
Bharti Fulmali has played the finisher’s role effectively for GG this season, striking at an impressive rate of 191.66 across four innings, with an average of 46. Despite playing aggressive shots, she has shown consistency, which has earned her a recall to India’s T20I squad for the upcoming Australia tour.
After playing two T20Is in 2019, she is set to make her return to the senior India Women’s team. Three of her four innings have been impactful, including an unbeaten 14 off seven balls against UP Warriorz that helped cross the 200-run mark, an unbeaten 36 off 15 that lifted the total to 192/5 from 136/5, and a 39 off 20 against RCB that put pressure on the opposition during a 56-run sixth-wicket stand with Kashvee Gautam. Batting mostly at number six and occasionally at seven, she has delivered whenever required.
RCB – Lauren Bell
Lauren Bell has set the tone for RCB with the new ball in this edition, using both inswing and outswing effectively. With eight wickets in four innings at an economy rate of 5.31, Bell is currently the joint third-highest wicket-taker. Her dot-ball percentage stands at 70.8, having bowled 61 dot balls out of 96 deliveries.
She has been effective both in the powerplay and at the death, with four of her wickets coming in the powerplay and three in the final overs. Bell will once again look to lead the bowling attack in Vadodara by providing early breakthroughs while maintaining control. In the reverse fixture, she dismissed GG captain Ashleigh Gardner and used slower deliveries to remove Bharti Fulmali and Shivani Singh.
Probable Playing XIs
GG
Beth Mooney (WK), Sophie Devine, Shivani Singh, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh
RCB
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Gautami Naik, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine de Klerk, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Lauren Bell
Also Read: Fulmali and Shreyanka recalled to T20I side for Australia tour
