RCB outclass Gujarat Giants to seal WPL 2026 playoffs spot

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru made it five out of five wins in WPL 2026 as they completed the double over the Gujarat Giants. A commanding batting performance on a tricky surface followed by a clinical bowling display propelled them to the finish line.

Winning the toss, the Giants opted to bowl first. RCB went in with an unchanged XI from their last fixture against the Delhi Capitals. Much to their woes, RCB lost two of their heavy hitters in no time at all. Grace Harris (1) and Georgia Voll (1) were sent back to the pavilion in quick succession.

Gautami Naik walked out to bat while RCB stuttered at 9/2. Joining RCB’s in-form captain, Smriti Mandhana, Naik started the overhaul. Recovering from the early jolt, the two took things slow and yet ensured that the scoreboard kept ticking. Mandhana (26) and Naik (73) added 60 runs for the third wicket, steadying RCB’s ship.

Ashleigh Gardner removed Smriti from the equation but RCB kept on fighting. Richa Ghosh’s arrival kept the composure intact. RCB’s wary approach in the first half of the innings soon gave way to aggression as Richa and Gautami decided to switch gears.

Naik spearheaded the charge, becoming the first uncapped player to register a half-century in WPL 2026. Richa compounded GG’s woes at the other end, as she started smacking the ball down the ground. The two carved another crucial stand, adding 69 runs for the fourth wicket.

Trying to hit a full toss from Sophie Devine, Ghosh holed out to Gardner for 27 off 20. Gardner dealt another crucial blow to RCB as she claimed Gautami Naik too, leaving two new batters at the crease in the death overs. Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav had to come up with some serious heavy lifting with the overs running out.

Yadav, who played a sensational knock of 66 in the last fixture against the Giants, decided to start her innings in fifth gear. From the eight balls that she faced, she clobbered 17 runs, hammering two fours and a six. She fell with two balls remaining in the innings while RCB were stationed at 170/6. An incoming Shreyanka Patil smashed two back to back boundaries to take RCB to 178/6 from 20 overs.

With the ball sticking to the surface, the number on the board certainly looked a tough one for the Giants. To aggravate matters for them, Sayali Satghare struck twice in her very first over to remove the experienced openers from the center. Beth Mooney (3) and Sophie Devine (0) were left flabbergasted by Sayali’s brilliance.

Lauren Bell struck next, getting the better of Kanika Ahuja (0) as RCB reduced the Giants to 5/3. Anushka Sharma (18) joined forces with the seasoned Ashleigh Gardner and put in the work to steady the ship. However, Anushka’s resistance was transient as Nadine de Klerk rattled the growing partnership between her and Gardner.

The Giants never really looked like they were in control. Ashleigh Gardner (54) was the only one who fought tooth and nail but with very minimal support from the other end, she failed to put the Giants in a fighter’s seat. RCB restricted GG to 117/8, securing another monumental win by 61 runs.

Sayali Satghare was the pick of the lot with numbers of 3/21 while Nadine de Klerk claimed a brace too. With this win, RCB became the first team to qualify for the play-offs in WPL 2026. Gautami Naik secured the Player of the Match award for her phenomenal knock with the bat.