Gujarat Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, WPL 2026 Highlights: Smriti Mandhana's RCB Make It 5 Wins Out Of 5, Seal Playoffs Spot

That wraps up this fairly one-sided contest, though it did have its moments of excitement. Five wins in five for RCB this season, and they are clearly having a great time. The defending champions, Mumbai Indians, will be in action on Tuesday, 20th January, as they lock horns with Delhi Capitals. The match starts at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can join us a little early for all the build-up. Until then, cheers!

Player of the Match, Gautami Naik (73 off 55 balls), says she is grateful to God for giving her this opportunity and thanks the RCB management. She says she is happy to have proven herself and adds that she is enjoying her cricket and wants to play wherever she gets the chance. She reflects that it has been a long journey and that she has worked hard for this moment. Naik thanks her family and coach, saying she would not have reached this stage without them, and dedicates the award to them. Also shares that the six she hit was the shot she enjoyed the most, as it changed the momentum and gave her confidence.

The skipper of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Smriti Mandhana, says she is very happy with the run her team is on. She feels that, given the way they started, it was an excellent effort to push the total past 175. Mentions that when she was batting, she felt 160 would be a good total, and anything above that would have been a bonus. Mandhana shares that she is happy for Gautami Naik and says that it is not easy to come from domestic cricket and perform on the big stage. She highlights the positive attitude Gautami has shown from the very first game, stressing that mindset is the most important factor. She feels Naik adapted well to a wicket that wasn't easy to bat on, and that it was a commendable effort. Mandhana believes that the bowling unit was on point with their execution. Adds that the surface played differently compared to last season, and it was a lot drier this time around. Smriti says that she is happy to see different players stepping up and emphasises that the contributions haven't just come from Player of the Match winners. Stresses that whether it was breaking a partnership, taking a crucial catch, or making a timely batting contribution, everyone has had a moment to impact the game. Further says that they, as a team, are looking forward to the break, and she praises the team's efforts during a demanding schedule, with three matches in four days, including a travel day. States that they don't want to get ahead of themselves and want to take it one game at a time. She ends by crediting the support staff for keeping the group happy and positive throughout the campaign.

Stay tuned for the presentation...

Nadine De Klerk, now the leading wicket-taker of the season with 10 scalps, level with Amelia Kerr but with a better average, comes up for a quick chat. She says that it helps to bowl after Bell opens the bowling attack for them. She praises Lauren Bell for bowling extremely well and making her job easier. Nadine explains that she tries to bowl on the line of the stumps and support the other bowlers from the Powerplay. Admits it has been tough for bowlers in Mumbai and then says that getting to 178 was a commendable effort. Feels that their bowlers bowled really well by keeping it on the stumps and forcing Gujarat to play false shots. Smiles and jokes that the confidence of the team is 12 on 10 at the moment. Adds that they have quality bowlers who operate in the Powerplay and highlights Sayali Satghare's efforts, who struck twice, and calls it a special effort. Notes that the new-ball bowlers swing the ball upfront and says the bowling group works well together, which is the main reason for their success. Further tells that it is great to have some family members at the ground and appreciates their support. States that playing for RCB always brings a supportive crowd, no matter where they go. Concludes by saying different players step up, they do not rely on only a few individuals, and praises Gautami Naik for playing a brilliant knock and taking them to a strong total.

The captain of the Gujarat Giants, Ashleigh Gardner, looks visibly disappointed. Admits it was a pretty frustrating outing and feels that they have not been able to win the small moments in the game. She points out that there were instances where the opposition missed the stumps and went unpunished, whereas her side couldn't make the most of similar moments when chances came their way. Gardner says that with 2 wins and 3 losses, it is pretty obvious they now need to win all their remaining games. Ash believes that playing straight was the best option on this wicket, where the ball stayed low at times, and the bounce wasn't entirely true. She adds that Smriti Mandhana has always been a decent match-up for her, and the plan was to make sure she bowled nice and straight. Gardner admits that they did not expect Gautami Naik to play the way she did and feels that it speaks volumes about the talent in the Indian domestic circuit. Reflecting on her own innings, Gardner shares that she was pretty angry out there and clearly frustrated as she was either missing balls or finding fielders instead of gaps. On reflection, she reckons she may have tried to hit the ball too hard.

The RCB bowling unit put on a clinic. A double strike from Sayali Satghare to remove both the openers took the wind out of Gujarat's sails very early. Another wicket inside the Powerplay left the Giants reeling. Ashleigh Gardner fought bravely, but she found little support at the other end. The writing was on the wall quite early, even if the final confirmation had to wait until the last ball, as RCB officially booked their place in the playoffs.

A perfect outing for the best team of the season! There were early nerves with the bat after two wickets fell inside the Powerplay, but from there on they kept the pressure at arm's length. As has been the story all season, new stars keep stepping up, and today it was Gautami Naik's turn. She held the innings together and stitched valuable partnerships with Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh. Handy cameos from Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil at the end pushed the total beyond 175, and the momentum flowed seamlessly into the RCB bowling effort. The perennial issue for Gujarat this season has been their bowling in the middle overs and at the death, and it was once again exposed, costing them dearly.

Well begun is half done may not hold true every day in cricket, but it certainly did today. Royal Challengers Bengaluru bossed the game from the word go and handed Gujarat Giants a proper hammering to seal their spot in the playoffs. This is also the first time a team has defended the total ​​​​​​at this venue in WPL.

Nadine gets the yorker in, on middle, Renuka Singh Thakur can only dig it out back to the bowler. Royal Challengers Bengaluru complete a thumping win by 61 runs to book their place in the playoffs!

Nadine keeps the stumps in play, on a length, Tanuja drills it down to long on for a single.

Full and around off, Tanuja sets up for the reverse lap but miscues it back towards the bowler.

Almost played on! Pace off, on a length, outside off, Tanuja swings with all her might but gets an inside edge on the bounce. The bounce takes the ball over the stumps and Richa Ghosh, standing up to the sticks, makes the stop.

Tanuja Kanwer was gone had the throw hit. Very full, wide on off, Renuka backs away to go through the off side. She toe-ends it in front of mid off, where Smriti Mandhana is quick to get to the ball. Kanwer wants to sneak in a single but is sent back. Mandhana has a shy at the bowling end but misses. The fielder backing up is a bit deep and that allows the batters to take the single.

Full and angled into the left-hander from around the wicket, Kanwer hits it down to long on for one.

Nadine De Klerk is back on to finish things off. 2/14 in her 3 overs so far. She runs in, but no one is ready. Reload.

Short and flat, on off, tapped to cover by Thakur.

FOUR! Gets it away! Radha offers flight, full and on middle, Renuka charges down the track and slogs over mid-wicket for a boundary.

At the sticks and the length stays full, slogged on the bounce to deep backward square leg for a single.

Full and on off, Renuka presses forward and pushes it to long off for a single.