Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are set to play three games in the next four days (January 16-19) in the ongoing WPL 2026, including a travel day (January 18) from Navi Mumbai to Vadodara. This hectic schedule begins on Friday, January 16, as they take on Gujarat Giants (GG) at the DY Patil Stadium.
Interestingly, this will be the first time these two sides face each other at this venue in WPL history.
RCB are the only unbeaten team so far this season, with two wins from two matches, having defeated the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the UP Warriorz (UPW). To extend their unbeaten run, Smriti Mandhana’s side will now take on Ashleigh Gardner’s GG, who are coming off a loss against MI, after winning their first two matches against UPW and Delhi Capitals (DC).
Standings
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1st position, 2 games – 2 wins, 4 points, NRR +1.964
Gujarat Giants: 3rd position, 3 games – 2 wins, 1 loss, 4 points, NRR +0.105
Head-to-Head record in the WPL
Overall: 6 matches – RCB 3, GG 3
At DY Patil Stadium: Yet to play
RCB record at DY Patil Stadium: 5 matches – Won 3, Lost 2
GG record at DY Patil Stadium: 6 matches – Won 2, Lost 4
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Players to watch out for
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Grace Harris
RCB’s plan to use the power-hitting ability of Grace Harris at the top of the order has worked perfectly so far. In the opening game against MI, she provided a quick start with 25 off 12 balls, striking at 208.33. She followed it up with a match-winning 85 off 40 balls against UPW, striking at 212.50, and bagged the Player of the Match award as RCB chased down 144 in just 12.1 overs with nine wickets in hand.
Her role looks clearly defined — to attack in the powerplay and give RCB fast starts. Against MI, Harris and Smriti Mandhana put on 40 runs in just 3.5 overs at a run rate of 11.4. In the next match, the opening pair added a massive 137-run stand in 11.4 overs at a run rate of 12.0. In the powerplay alone, RCB raced to 78/0 at a run rate of 13.0, completely taking the game away from UPW.
Gujarat Giants – Kanika Ahuja
Kanika Ahuja is known for her all-round ability and has already made a strong mark in domestic cricket. However, GG are yet to bowl her this season, and her batting position has also remained uncertain. Against UPW, she did not get a chance to bat, while against DC, she came in at number eight, which appeared too low for a batter of her ability.
In the last match against MI, GG promoted Kanika to number three to replace the injured Anushka Sharma, and the move paid off. She looked fluent and confident, scoring 35 off 18 balls at a strike rate of 194.44.
Despite losing Sophie Devine early, Kanika ensured the run rate stayed high, and along with Beth Mooney, GG finished the powerplay at a healthy run rate of 10.30. If GG continue to back her at number three, she could play a key role, as this position seems to suit her better than batting lower down the order.
Interestingly, she is a former RCB player, playing 15 matches for them in two WPL seasons. So against her former team, Kanika would love to come up with a statement performance just like several players have already done this season, for example, Grace Harris against UPW, Laura Wolvaardt against GG, Phoebe Litchfield against GG, Meg Lanning scoring a fifty against DC.
Probable Playing XIs
RCB
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), D Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh (WK), Gautami Naik, Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
GG
Beth Mooney (WK), Sophie Devine, Ayushi Soni, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh
Also Read: MI vs UPW, WPL 2026: Harmanpreet’s MI eye hat-trick of wins as pressure mounts on UPW
