Vadodara, January 29: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana said that before the crucial match against UP Warriors, she kept reminding the team that the final was just one win away.
RCB secured a convincing eight-wicket victory over UP Warriors in the 18th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 on Thursday, thereby qualifying for the final. After restricting UP Warriors to 143 for 8, RCB comfortably chased the target in 13.1 overs. The 2024 champions are now aiming to win their second title.
Mandhana acknowledged the strong start provided by UP Warriors’ openers, Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma, but praised RCB’s bowlers for regaining control of the match.
Speaking to broadcasters after the match, Mandhana said, “It was a great contest. UP Warriors got off to a very good start, scoring around 60-70 runs without losing a wicket. From there, our bowlers made a strong comeback. Grace took two important wickets. Nadine de Klerk bowled very well again. Honestly, the entire bowling unit performed excellently. It is always good to see the team bowl so well together.”
The RCB captain also highlighted the team’s calm and practical approach following two consecutive defeats in recent matches.
“In the last two matches, we told ourselves not to get emotional or make things difficult for ourselves. We played very well in the first five games. In tournaments like this, sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition, like Netta (Saiver-Brent) who played brilliantly in the last match. So, we reviewed things practically, focused on what we could improve, and worked on it,” Mandhana added.
She further said, “Honestly, the message was the same as in the previous matches. We kept saying we are just one win away from the final, and nothing has changed. The support staff has been very consistent with their message, whether we win or lose, and this continuity helps us a lot as players. For the last three matches, the focus has always been on being one win away, and I am just happy that today we achieved that win and reached the final directly.”
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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