The Women’s Premier League 2026 heated up at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium where Gujarat Giants triumphed in the toss against league leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru, electing to chase in match number 12. Two fresh inclusions—Anushka Sharma’s injury comeback and Happy Kumari’s eagerly awaited debut—signaled bold intent from skipper Ashley Gardner.
Post-toss, Gardner shared insights: ‘Bowling first suits us here, akin to home conditions with roaring supporters. RCB’s fanbase is formidable, yet our two changes are key: Anushka returns, Happy debuts. In this high-scoring arena, our chase hinges on quick wickets and strong batting.’
RCB’s Smriti Mandhana stuck with her winning XI: ‘Heroes emerge every match. We stay grounded, match-by-match, fueled by team spirit—no changes today.’ Their streak of four wins boasts variety: 3 wickets vs MI, 9 wickets vs UP Warriors, 32 runs vs Gujarat Giants, 8 wickets vs Delhi Capitals.
Gujarat, third with two victories from four games, notched tense defenses—10 runs over UP Warriors, 4 runs vs Delhi Capitals—but stumbled against MI (7 wickets) and RCB (32 runs). Revival beckons.
Teams:
Gujarat Giants: B Mooney (wk), S Devine, A Sharma, K Ahuja, A Gardner (capt), G Wareham, K Gautam, B Fulmali, T Kanwar, H Kumari*, R Singh Thakur.
RCB: G Harris, S Mandhana (capt), G Voll, R Ghosh (wk), G Naik, N de Klerk, R Yadav, P Rawat, S Patil, S Satghare, L Bell.
This matchup pits Gujarat’s home fire against RCB’s unstoppable run—expect drama, skill, and possibly a shift in power.