RCB W vs MI W: The Women’s Premier League 2026 begins with a high-profile match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women and defending champions Mumbai Indians Women on Friday at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Both teams have built a strong rivalry over the years, and this season opener is expected to draw major attention.
RCB W vs MI W have faced each other seven times in WPL history. Mumbai Indians hold a slight edge with four wins, while Bengaluru has won three matches. In the last five meetings, RCB has won three times. Last season, Mumbai won the Bengaluru match by four wickets, while RCB bounced back with an 11-run win at the Brabourne Stadium.
The DY Patil pitch is known for its bounce and pace. The surface was prepared using soil brought from South Africa, which helps batters play through the line and gives fast bowlers good carry. Weather conditions are expected to be ideal, with clear skies and no rain. Temperatures are likely to stay between 20°C and 30°C.
RCB W vs MI W: What to expect?
RCB began the season without Ellyse Perry, who had been part of the team for three straight seasons. Her absence has been a major talking point. Smriti Mandhana remains central to RCB’s plans, even though her WPL numbers have not matched her international form so far. RCB’s bowling unit includes Lauren Bell, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, and Arundhati Reddy, giving them a mix of pace and spin.
The Mumbai Indians start once again as strong favorites. The two-time champions have a settled core with Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Hayley Matthews, all of whom lead national sides. Their squad also includes young talent like G. Kamalini, which adds depth to the batting. In bowling, Mumbai rely on Shabnim Ismail, Amelia Kerr, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth, and others, making them one of the most balanced teams in the league.
RCB W vs MI W: Predicted Playing XI
Here is the predicted team lineup of RCB W and MI W in the WPL 2026:
| RCB W Predicted XI | MI W Predicted XI |
| Smriti Mandhana (c) | Hayley Matthews |
| Georgia Voll | Nat Sciver-Brunt |
| Dayalan Hemalatha | Harmanpreet Kaur (c) |
| Grace Harris | Amanjot Kaur |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | Amelia Kerr |
| Pooja Vastrakar | Sajeevan Sajana |
| Nadine de Klerk | G. Kamalini (wk) |
| Shreyanka Patil | Poonam Khemnar |
| Arundhati Reddy | Saika Ishaque |
| Radha Yadav | Shabnim Ismail |
| Lauren Bell | Sanskriti Gupta |
RCB W vs MI W: Where to watch?
The match will be broadcast live in India on the Star Sports Network and streamed on the JioHotstar app and website. Fans can watch the match on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, and Star Sports Select 1.
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