Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered a dominant all-round performance to register a commanding 61-run victory over Gujarat Giants (GG) in the 12th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara.
After posting a competitive 178 for 6, RCB Women backed it up with a disciplined bowling effort led by Sayali Satghare to restrict Gujarat Giants to just 117 for 8.
Gautami Naik anchors RCB innings with career-best knock
Batting first after Gujarat Giants opted to bowl, RCB endured an early wobble as Grace Harris and Georgia Voll departed cheaply. Captain Smriti Mandhana steadied the innings with a fluent 26, but the responsibility of rebuilding truly fell on Gautami Naik.
The young batter rose to the occasion with a composed and confident knock of 73 off 55 balls, striking seven fours and a six. Gautami displayed maturity beyond her years, rotating strike smartly while punishing loose deliveries. Her crucial 60-run partnership with Mandhana restored momentum and laid the foundation for a strong total.
Once set, RCB accelerated effectively in the latter half of the innings. Richa Ghosh played a brisk cameo, scoring 27 at a strike rate of 135, ensuring the scoring rate remained healthy. Nadine de Klerk added stability at the death, remaining unbeaten, while Shreyanka Patil provided a brief but explosive finish.
Despite disciplined spells from Ashleigh Gardner and Kashvee Gautam, Gujarat Giants conceded 21 extras, which further boosted RCB’s total to 178 for 6 – a challenging score on the Vadodara surface.
Sayali Satghare leads RCB’s ruthless bowling display
In reply, Gujarat Giants never found momentum as wickets fell regularly. The chase derailed early when Sayali Satghare removed Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine within the powerplay, leaving the Giants reeling at 4 for 2.
Sayali’s spell proved decisive as she finished with impressive figures of 3/21, claiming key scalps including that of GG skipper Gardner. Her ability to extract movement and maintain tight lines kept the pressure firmly on the batting side.
Gujarat’s middle order struggled to recover from the early damage. Anushka Sharma showed brief resistance, while Gardner fought hard with a 43-ball 54, but lacked consistent support at the other end. Radha Yadav and Nadine de Klerk complemented Sayali’s efforts, sharing wickets and ensuring the required run rate climbed steeply.
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The Giants limped to 117 for 8 by the end of the 20th over. RCB’s fielding was equally sharp, further tightening the screws during the middle overs.
RCB continues their unbeaten run in WPL 2026 😊#cricket #WPL2026 #GGvRCB pic.twitter.com/QGG1cgHqn8
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) January 19, 2026
For her batting brilliance, Gautami Naik was adjudged Player of the Match.
Player of the Match: Gautami Naik#cricket #GGvRCB #WPL2026 pic.twitter.com/8gi04JqVOI
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) January 19, 2026
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
