WPL 2026 GG vs RCB: Gautami Naik Stars as RCB Storm into Playoffs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women continued their dream run in the Women’s Premier League 2026, outclassing Gujarat Giants Women in Match 12 to register their sixth consecutive victory. After being put in to bat, RCB recovered from early blows through a superb maiden WPL fifty from Gautami Naik, lifting them to a competitive 178. The bowlers then delivered a clinical performance, ripping through the Giants’ batting to seal a commanding win and confirm RCB’s place in the playoffs.
Match Summary
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women vs Gujarat Giants Women – Match 12
Women’s Premier League 2026 • Vadodara
The WPL 2026 GG vs RCB clash followed a familiar script for Gujarat, who showed early promise before unraveling at key moments. RCB were jolted early at 9/2, but Gautami Naik absorbed pressure and built vital partnerships with Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh. Late cameos pushed the total beyond Gujarat’s reach. In response, the Giants never recovered from a disastrous powerplay, losing wickets in clusters. Ashleigh Gardner fought hard with a lone half-century, but relentless bowling from RCB ensured the chase never truly took shape.
Playing XI
Gujarat Giants Women
Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Kanika Ahuja, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Georgia Wareham, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwer, Happy Kumari, Renuka Singh Thakur
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Gautami Naik, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Lauren Bell
Innings Breakdown
RCB First Innings – Gautami Naik’s Breakout Night (178/6)
RCB found themselves in early trouble after losing Grace Harris and Georgia Voll inside two overs. Smriti Mandhana steadied the innings briefly, but the spotlight soon shifted to Gautami Naik. Calm under pressure, Naik rotated strike smartly and punished loose deliveries, growing in confidence as the innings progressed. Her partnerships of 60 with Mandhana and 69 with Richa Ghosh laid the foundation. Despite Gujarat pulling things back in the middle overs, RCB’s lower order finished strongly, smashing 40 runs in the final three overs to reach a decisive 178.
Gujarat Second Innings – Early Collapse Seals Fate (117/8)
The chase began disastrously for Gujarat as Sayali Satghare and Lauren Bell struck in quick succession, leaving the Giants reeling at 5/3. Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine and Kanika Ahuja fell cheaply, placing immense pressure on Ashleigh Gardner. The captain responded with a defiant half-century, mixing aggression with calculated risk. However, wickets continued to tumble around her. Nadine de Klerk’s disciplined middle-overs spell and smart death bowling ensured Gujarat never built momentum, eventually falling well short as RCB sealed a comprehensive victory.
Top Performers
Gautami Naik – 73 off 55 Balls: A Career-Defining Knock
Walking in at 9/2, Gautami Naik delivered one of the finest innings of WPL 2026. Showing maturity beyond her experience, she adapted to a tricky surface, relying on placement, sharp running, and selective aggression. Her maiden WPL fifty was built patiently before she shifted gears, anchoring the innings when others fell around her. Naik’s ability to bat deep and still accelerate late turned a shaky start into a commanding total. This knock not only earned her Player of the Match but also announced her arrival on the biggest stage.
Sayali Satghare – 3/21: Powerplay Destruction
Sayali Satghare once again set the tone for RCB with a devastating opening spell. Striking twice in her first over, she dismantled Gujarat’s top order and sucked the confidence out of the chase. Her ability to hit hard lengths and keep the ball straight proved lethal on a surface offering uneven bounce. Satghare’s three-wicket haul marked her ninth wicket in three games at this venue, underlining her growing importance as RCB’s go-to powerplay enforcer.
Ashleigh Gardner – 54 off 43: Lone Resistance
In an otherwise forgettable night for Gujarat, Ashleigh Gardner stood tall. Battling mounting pressure and a collapsing batting order, the skipper played with controlled aggression, targeting straight boundaries and refusing to give in. Her third fifty at this venue showcased her adaptability and leadership. However, with little support from the other end, Gardner’s efforts ultimately proved insufficient, reflecting Gujarat’s broader struggles this season.
What This Result Means
This emphatic win cements Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the team to beat in WPL 2026. Six wins in a row not only secure playoff qualification but also place them firmly on course for a direct entry into the final. The hallmark of RCB’s campaign has been collective contribution, with different players stepping up each match. For Gujarat Giants, the defeat deepens their crisis. With only a handful of matches remaining, their margin for error is gone, and fielding lapses coupled with batting collapses continue to haunt them. The Giants now face a must-win scenario in their remaining fixtures, while RCB can afford to plan, rotate, and fine-tune ahead of the knockout stage.
WPL 2026 Points Table
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