Vadodara: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) chose to bowl after winning the toss against UP Warriors in the 18th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the BCA Stadium on Thursday. RCB had already qualified for the playoffs by winning their first five matches but have lost their last two games consecutively.
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana said, “We will field first. It is a good wicket for batting. We got many things right to win the initial five matches, and now we just need to keep things simple. There is one change in our team; Pooja Vastrakar has replaced Gautami Naik.”
On the other hand, UP Warriors captain Meg Lanning stated, “We have to win every match, so we have nothing to lose. The break was good; we focused on areas that need improvement and where we can do better. Amy Jones has been included in place of Litchfield, and Simran Sheikh is replacing Navgire.”
UP Warriors are fifth in the points table after losing four of their six matches. A win is their only chance to keep playoff hopes alive.
The team made significant changes by appointing Abhishek Nayar as head coach and handing captaincy to Meg Lanning, one of the most successful captains in women’s cricket history, replacing India’s star player Deepti Sharma. However, these changes have yet to show a major impact.
Currently, Gujarat Giants stand second with four wins in seven matches. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals follow in third and fourth positions with three wins each out of seven games. All four teams remain in contention for the playoffs.
The playing XI for UP Warriors includes: Meg Lanning (captain), Simran Sheikh, Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sahrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhna Joy, Shikha Pandey, and Kranti Gupta.
RCB’s playing XI features: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (captain), Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, and Lauren Bell.
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.
Leave a Comment