Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians, Match 16 Match Summary

Final push, different paths! The final week of league-stage action in the 2026 Women's Premier League is upon us, and Match 16 sees Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on the Mumbai Indians at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Two teams arrive with contrasting objectives. RCB have already sealed qualification and have a direct berth in the final within reach, while MI are fighting to stay in the playoff mix. RCB eye a direct final berth! After winning their first five matches, RCB's juggernaut was finally brought to a halt in their previous outing by Delhi Capitals. As Smriti Mandhana admitted after the defeat, it can sometimes be better to get such a game out of the way before the playoffs. The 2024 champions will be keen to return to winning ways, knowing that one win from their remaining two matches will secure a direct place in the final. One of RCB's biggest strengths this season has been different individuals stepping up at different times, but against DC, no one was able to rise to the occasion. Mandhana has shouldered the bulk of the scoring throughout the campaign, but there is a slight concern around the recent run of low scores for Grace Harris, while Georgia Voll has tapered off after a fifty in her opening game. Much will rest on that trio getting RCB off to a solid start, with the likes of Richa Ghosh and Nadine De Klerk providing firepower down the order. On a night where positives were few, Sayali Satghare once again delivered an impactful Powerplay spell and has formed an effective new-ball pairing with Lauren Bell. De Klerk will also have a crucial role to play alongside Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav on the slow, low surfaces on offer in Vadodara. Can MI turn things around? Mumbai Indians find themselves in a challenging phase of the tournament, having lost their previous three matches. With just two games remaining, they will be desperate to rediscover momentum in what is a must-win phase of the competition. A major issue for the two-time champions this season has been instability at the top of the order. Hayley Matthews was initially unavailable due to a shoulder injury, and then G Kamalini was ruled out, forcing MI to try as many as four different opening combinations in six matches. Even the pairing of Sajana Sajeevan and Matthews has yet to bring success, which has placed additional pressure on Nat Sciver-Brunt and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who have carried the bulk of the scoring. Nicola Carey has made her presence felt with both bat and ball, though it was a concern when she left the field during their bowling effort in the previous game. That said, the five-day break between matches gives MI hope that Carey will be fit to feature. Shabnim Ismail, meanwhile, has not had the same impact she enjoyed in Mumbai's title-winning campaigns, and that has hurt their cause. Team form (Last 5 T20s, most recent first) RCB - LWWWW | MI - LLLWW. Chasing paradise or a level playing field? The Vadodara leg of the 2025 WPL season saw all six matches won by the side chasing. This season, however, the trend has evened out, with two wins each for teams batting first and chasing across the four games played so far. Spoils shared, but is the rivalry really even? The two sides have shared the spoils so far, with four wins apiece from their eight meetings. However, recent history tilts in RCB's favour. They have won four of the last five encounters, including the previous two and their earlier meeting this season. Different stakes, shared history, and everything to play for in Vadodara. Who will rise and come out on top?