RCB-W Playing XI vs MI-W- WPL 2026, Match 1

Anurag Dasgupta

RCB probable XI Vs MI [Source: @imfemalecricket/x.com] RCB probable XI Vs MI [Source: @imfemalecricket/x.com]

The wait is over as the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2026) is set to commence on Friday, January 9, with the defending champions, Mumbai Indians, taking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opening fixture. Both sides have assembled a strong squad, and the Royal Challengers will aim to stop the MI juggernaut in the opening match.

RCB were the victorious team in the 2024 edition, but they failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2025. However, this time around, the Red Army has an interesting squad and here is how they could lineup for the opening match of the WPL 2026.

RCB-W Playing XI vs MI-W- WPL 2026, Match 1

Top order - Smriti Mandhana, Georgia Voll, Dayalan Hemalatha

The RCB’s opening combination is fixed as team captain Smriti Mandhana will have the responsibility to take charge in the powerplay alongside her new partner, Georgia Voll. RCB invested smartly in acquiring Voll’s services for the upcoming campaign and she can be the chief aggressor as the team looks for an aggressive partnership at the top.

Moreover, Voll boasts stellar T20I numbers for Australia at the top and will make for a great partner for Mandhana.

Criterion
Georgia Voll
Matches6
Runs210
Strike rate144.82

(Voll T20I numbers)

  • 210 runs in six matches with a strike rate of 144.82 define her T20I journey so far. This aggressive mindset will benefit the RCB side and ease the pressure on Mandhana.
  • With two aggressive pair at the top, Dayalan Hemalatha is likely to bat at 3, and she is yet another explosive batter who can take the game away from the Mumbai side.

Middle order - Grace Harris, Richa Ghosh, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar

Ellyse Perry out, Aussie teammate to replace her

Even before the tournament started, RCB suffered a jolt in the form of Ellyse Perry. Their superstar player pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons, and this disrupted the RCB combination. However, luckily for them, the team had already signed an aggressive Grace Harris in the mega auction, and she can fulfil Perry’s middle-order role.


Criterion
Grace Harris
Matches54
Runs577
Strike rate155.52

(Grace Harris in T20Is)

  • One of the most destructive batters in Women’s T20Is, the Australian batter, Grace Harris, can be used as a floater by the RCB side. She can open the innings, can bat at 3 as well, but with Perry not in the squad, RCB needs her experience to strengthen the number four slot.
  • Apart from Harris, the middle-order responsibility will be shouldered by the ever-reliable Richa Ghosh and South African star, Nadinde de Klerk. The team arguably has two of the best finishers in the tournament, and one can bat at 5, and other at 6.
  • Apart from them, there is Pooja Vastrakar, who can easily play at number 7, and can also be used as a finisher (someone who can bat and contribute with the ball as well).

Bowlers: Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav

Criterion
Data
Matches36
Dismissals50
Economy7.14

(Lauren Bell in T20Is)

  • 50 wickets in 36 matches define Bell’s journey. Moreover, she operates inside the powerplay and the team needs her skillset in the first 6 overs to take the early MI wickets.
  • Apart from Bell, the pace department will be handled by Arundhati Reddy, who is known for her ability to swing the ball both ways and can be a brilliant operator alongside Bell.
  • Another Indian player will complete the bowling department as the team has Radha Yadav, who can be used as a second-spinner alongside Shreyanka Patil.

RCB-W strongest XI for WPL opener vs MI- Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Dayalan Hemalatha, Grace Harris, Richa Ghosh, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Lauren Bell, Radha Yadav