HIGHLIGHTS GG vs RCB WPL 2026 Match 12 - Result, Scorecard

We are all set for Gujarat's batting effort to get underway. Smriti Mandhana leads her troops out to the centre. It will be the left-hand, right-hand combination of Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine to open the innings for the Giants. Lauren Bell will kickstart proceedings with the new ball. Bell to Mooney. Surprisingly, no slip in place. Let's play...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

In the six games played last season here in Vadodara, 156 has been the average first-innings score, and RCB have gone well past that figure. Moreover, the surface has played slow and low, with batters not quite finding the fluency they would have liked. That said, all six matches last season at this venue were won by the side chasing. The Giants will be hoping for a strong start and for Beth Mooney to come good at the top of the order. They will have the challenge of dealing with Lauren Bell, who has had the ball on a string this season. Back in a bit for the second essay.

Gautami Naik (73 off 55 balls) comes up for a quick chat. Says she is feeling very good, having got an opportunity and is happy to prove herself. She adds that the RCB management shows faith in her, and she went out with the aim of implementing the plans. She explains that the ball is holding up a bit, so the plan was to take it on from one end and back her strengths. Mentions that she loves the grounded shot she played the most. Describes batting with Smriti Mandhana as a pleasure, saying that Smriti guided her and made things easier for her in the early stages. She expresses gratitude to Smriti for backing her.

Both Richa Ghosh and Gautami Naik fell within the space of three balls, giving the Gujarat Giants a window to close out the innings on a strong note. However, Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil came through for RCB to push the total past 175. After a promising start, the Giants were untidy with the ball, conceding 15 wides, and that could well end up proving the difference.

After the toss fell their way, the Gujarat Giants made early inroads through their new-ball attack to reduce RCB to 9/2. Gautami Naik then stitched together crucial partnerships, first with Smriti Mandhana and later with Richa Ghosh. That allowed RCB to recover from those early setbacks. Naik grew in confidence as the innings progressed and went on to register her maiden WPL half-century. Once again, Gujarat’s struggles through the middle phase came to the fore, as they conceded 77 runs between overs 7 and 15.

A strong finish for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 40 runs in the last 3 overs for RCB, and they will be pretty happy with what they have ended up with. Having dismissed the two set batters in the last phase of the innings, the Gujarat Giants would have hoped to limit the damage, but it was not to be.

Kashvee Gautam to Shreyanka Patil, FOUR! Wow, that's some way to end the inning. Length delivery around off, and Patil goes down to attempt the reverse. She gets it absolutely spot on, lifts it cleanly over short third, and picks up a clever boundary. 17 runs from the final over and RCB end on 178/6.

Kashvee Gautam to Shreyanka Patil, FOUR! Terrific shot. Length delivery outside off, Shreyanka Patil shuffles across the stumps and plays a powerful slog sweep, over backward square leg and finds the fence after beating the dive from the fielder near the boundary line.

Shreyanka Patil comes out to bat. Two legal balls left in the innings. Can RCB go past 175?

Kashvee Gautam to Radha Yadav, OUT! CAUGHT! That is the end of a handy little cameo from Radha Yadav. Back of a length around off and taken off the pace, Radha stays back to muscle it through the off side but goes too early. The timing deserts her, the ball floats straight to mid off, and Bharti Fulmali accepts the gift without fuss.

Kashvee Gautam to Radha Yadav, FOUR! The bowler tries to follow the batter down the leg side, but the length is short and Yadav adjusts well to put it away, behind square leg, and finds the fence once more.

Kashvee Gautam to Radha Yadav, FOUR! Plenty of bottom hand on this shot. Too full and around off, Yadav stays put inside the crease and thwacks it over extra cover for a cracking boundary.

Kashvee Gautam to Nadine De Klerk, Begins with a full ball on middle, Nadine hangs back and drills it to long off, takes a single.

Kashvee Gautam (3-0-21-1) to close out the innings.

Sophie Devine to Radha Yadav, Full and outside off, Yadav tries to play lap shot initially but then tries the reverse-batted shot. Doesn't middle and it rolls to point.

Sophie Devine to Radha Yadav, SIX! Out of here! Devine serves a length ball around leg, Radha goes deep inside the crease and plunders it over deep backward square leg for a maximum.

Sophie Devine to Nadine De Klerk, Full and on middle, eased to long on for a run.

Sophie Devine to Radha Yadav, Hangs back to a length ball and drags it over mid-wicket for one.

Sophie Devine to Nadine De Klerk, Down the leg side, De Klerk fails to flick and it goes off her pads to the on side. They cross for a leg bye.

Sophie Devine to Nadine De Klerk, In and around the off stump, on a length, Nadine stays leg side and looks to force it away on the off side but is beaten as the ball goes under the blade.

Sophie Devine to Nadine De Klerk, Wide! Full and pushed down leg, Nadine De Klerk has a swing at it but misses.

Ashleigh Gardner to Nadine De Klerk, Quicker and down the leg side, Nadine De Klerk goes down and sweeps it towards short fine. They cross. 13 runs from the over, along with a wicket.

Ashleigh Gardner to Radha Yadav, Flighted on middle, slogged to deep mid-wicket for one.

Ashleigh Gardner to Nadine De Klerk, Outside off, tapped to point for one.

Ashleigh Gardner to Nadine De Klerk, Five wides! Gardner loses her radar and fires it down the leg side. Nadine De Klerk fails to get any bat behind it and the keeper also fails to collect. A boundary down to fine leg.

Ashleigh Gardner to Radha Yadav, On middle, lofted down towards square leg for a run.

Radha Yadav joins Nadine De Klerk out in the middle. Two new batters at the crease in the death overs on a surface where batting hasn’t been easy. Let’s see how RCB finish.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, OUT! BOWLED! Both set batters depart in quick succession and it is a productive phase for the Giants. There was a little cat-and-mouse just before this delivery, with Naik shaping for the reverse before Ash backed out. This time she keeps it full and around middle. Naik makes room and looks to go over the off side, but plays all around it. The stumps are rattled, and Gautami Naik bows out for a well-made 73 off 55 balls.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, FOUR! Meanwhile, Naik continues with her purple patch. Flighted and full around leg, Naik skips down the track and whips it towards wide long on. The fielder sprints across from deep mid wicket but cannot cut it off, and the ball wins the race to the fence.

The new batter is....Nadine De Klerk. Ashleigh Gardner will bowl out now. Oh, wait. The third umpire is reviewing the previous decision again after the wrong graphics were initially shown for the height check on Ghosh. The correct graphics have now been put up, and it is still a fair delivery. We are all good to go.

Sophie Devine to Richa Ghosh, OUT! CAUGHT! A full toss, a real gift on middle, and Ghosh stays back to give it the full treatment straight down the ground. She does not quite get the distance though, and Gardner at long on settles under it and accepts the chance. Ghosh is not going anywhere, she wants it checked for a waist-high full toss. It is a legal delivery, shows the replay and she is on her way. A massive breakthrough for the Giants at this stage. The 69-run stand off 45 balls is snapped, and RCB slip to 138 for 4.

Sophie Devine to Richa Ghosh, Swing and a miss. Length ball outside off, Ghosh throws her hands at it but fails to connect.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, A bit short and on off, Naik stays back and forces it to long on, for one.

Sophie Devine to Richa Ghosh, Angling down the leg side, on a length, Richa helps it through square leg for a run.

Sophie Devine to Richa Ghosh, Four byes! That has gone through everyone. Full toss, close to off, Richa walks forward for a big shot but misses and it goes through Mooney, for a boundary behind. Bonus runs.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, Walks down the track to a length ball and knocks it towards long on for one.

Strategic break. RCB are on the charge now, with two batters well set at the crease. They will be eyeing something close to 190, and the momentum is firmly in their corner. Do remember Nadine De Klerk is yet to come. Gujarat Giants have had issues with the ball, both in the middle phase and at the death, they certainly need to pull up their socks and limit the damage. Sophie Devine to bowl.

Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, SIX! Put away. Kanwer still doesn't fire it in, gives it air and serves it on middle, Ghosh goes down and powers it straight down the ground. Clears the fence with ease, 17 runs from the over.

Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, Run out chance, missed! Kanwer serves it full and around off, Richa makes room and chips it over extra cover. Sophie Devine collects and throws it towards the bowler who fails to collect otherwise Gautami Naik woould have been a goner.

Tanuja Kanwer to Gautami Naik, Advances down the track and hits it towards long off for one.

Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, Mishit. Tossed up, around middle, Ghosh doesn't middle this one and drags it towards wide long on, for a run.

Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, SIX! This one has disappeared. Looped up, full and around middle, Ghosh wears her skates and launches it cleanly over long on for a biggie. She is a dangerous batter. The fifty stand is up, off 36 balls.

Tanuja Kanwer to Gautami Naik, Flighted and full, around off, Naik walks forward and forces it to long off for a run.

Tanuja Kanwer is back on.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, Fuller and on off, Gautami stays leg side and carves it over wide mid off. It is mopped up by the deep cover fielder. Back-to-back 9-run overs.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, Good effort in the field! On a back of a length, on off, punched on the up by Gautami. She manages to beat the diving mid off fielder to her right but the long on fielder gets around and dives to prevent the boundary. Two runs saved.

Kashvee Gautam to Richa Ghosh, Flighted and on middle, this has been lofted down to long on, for a run.

Kashvee Gautam to Richa Ghosh, Short in length and outside off, Richa want to cut but gets a bottom edge behind it.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, Full and angled in at the stumps, Gautami gets down on a knee and slogs it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, FOUR! Width offered and Gautami cashes in! Short and wide on off, Naik lets the ball come to her and cuts it late to thread the gap between short third and backward point for a four.

Ashleigh Gardner to Richa Ghosh, A massive appeal for LBW! Not given. Ashleigh Gardner has a word with the keeper, Beth Mooney, before going for the review. This is slowed down, slower than the previous ball, on a length, on middle. Ghosh drops on a knee for the sweep but swings early and is beaten. The ball sneaks under the blade and hits her on the crouched back thigh. The UltraEdge shows no bat but the Ball Tracking shows that the ball is spinning past the leg stump.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, Drags her length back, on middle, Gautami turns it through square leg and crosses over.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, FOUR! How often have we seen this? A dropped catch is followed by a boundary. Tossed up, on a length, on off, Naik uses her feet again and smears it in the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on for a four.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, DROPPED! That should have been taken. Floated up, around off, Naik gives the bowler the charge and stays leg side of the ball. She gets the height but not the distance. Kashvee Gautam runs in off the ropes and puts in a dive with her hands stretched out in front but fails to cling on. The ball clips her fingertips and drops down on the ground. Two runs taken. 100 up for RCB!

Ashleigh Gardner to Richa Ghosh, This skids through, flat and short, on off, Ghosh backs away and angles it behind point for a single.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, FIFTY FOR NAIK! Maiden WPL half-century for Gautami. She raises her bat towards the dugout, and this is a moment she will remember forever. Full and on the pads, Gautami works it through mid-wicket for a single to reach the milestone.

Tanuja Kanwer to Gautami Naik, This comes in with the arm, shorter and on middle. Naik tucks it to deep square leg for a single. A tidy first over from Tanuja.

Tanuja Kanwer to Gautami Naik, Flighted delivery, outside off, Naik gets down the track again and despite not being to the pitch of the ball, she swings through the line. Ends up getting it off the toe end of the blade and Kanwer makes a good stop, low to her left.

Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, On the shorter side, on off, this is hit down to long off for a single by Ghosh.

Tanuja Kanwer to Richa Ghosh, Slower through the air and fuller as well, on off, Richa waits on it and steers it to short third. Naik is keen for a single but Ghosh sends her back.

Tanuja Kanwer to Gautami Naik, Darted in from around the wicket, full and around off, Naik steps out and pushes it down to long off for one.

Tanuja Kanwer to Gautami Naik, Drops it fractionally short, on off, Gautami cuts but picks out the fielder at point.

Another change. Ashleigh Gardner has been very active. Tanuja Kanwer comes into the attack now.

Georgia Wareham to Richa Ghosh, SIX! Clean strike! Wareham offers flight but ends up serving it right in the slot, on off, Ghosh holds her shape and launches it well over the long off fence for a biggie. 13 from the over!

Georgia Wareham to Gautami Naik, Full and on middle, Naik wrists it off the pads to deep square leg for a single.

Georgia Wareham to Gautami Naik, FOUR! Fine shot! A bit too full from Naik, on off, Gautami gets a good stride in and firms the drive wide of deep cover. The fielder in the deep sprints and dives to her left but in vain.

Georgia Wareham to Gautami Naik, Flatter and shorter, on middle, Naik stays back to flick and gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Georgia Wareham to Richa Ghosh, Loopy ball, full and outside off, Ghosh clears the front leg and stays leg side to go over cover. Slices it more off the outer half over extra cover for a single.

Georgia Wareham to Gautami Naik, Floated up, on off, Gautami skips down the track and hammers it down to long off for a run.

Here is Georgia Wareham.

Sophie Devine to Richa Ghosh, Full and on off, eased to mid off by Naik.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, BUZZERS! Devine serves it full, on off, Gautami taps it with a straight bat in front of mid off and pinches a quick single. Kashvee Gautam swoops in and fires in a throw at the batting end to the left of Beth Mooney. Mooney fails to get around Richa Ghosh and the fielder at short fine leg is too wide to back throw up. Five runs!

Sophie Devine to Richa Ghosh, Nearly took the leg stump! Fuller and around leg, Ghosh has a big swing across the line but misses. The ball goes past the leg pole and deflects away off Mooney's pads for a bye.

Sophie Devine to Richa Ghosh, On a back of a length, on middle and leg, Ghosh is beaten on the flick and gets hit high on the front pad.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, On a back of a length, on off, Naik taps it to deep point for one.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, Sliding in at the hips, Naik walks inside the line for the tickle but misses. Good take by Beth Mooney standing up to the stumps. Wide is not given because the ball was within the new guideline for wide on the leg side.

We've reached the halfway mark and this game is hanging in the balance. The wicket of Mandhana may have tilted it slightly towards the Giants but we all know what the RCB batting line-up is capable of, even without Smriti.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, Flat and short, on off, Naik stays back and forces it to the left of long off for a single.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, This is looped up, full and outside off, Naik advances down the track to go over the top on the off side. Gets it off the outer half and it is spooned wide of short third for a couple of runs.

Ashleigh Gardner to Richa Ghosh, Full and fired in at the pads, Ghosh helps it wide of short fine leg and picks up a single to get off the mark.

A wicket has gone down, a big one too. In walks the hard-hitter, Richa Ghosh.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, OUT! LBW! Gujarat Giants get the review right. Once again in her career, Smriti Mandhana falls to off spin. From around the wicket, sliding on with the arm, on middle and leg. Mandhana goes back to a full ball and tries to flick it away. She is beaten on the inside edge and the ball hits her on the outside half of the front pad. A confident shout for LBW but turned down. Ashleigh Gardner thinks this is close and takes the review. No bat is involved on UltraEdge. It is three reds on Ball Tracking with the ball crashing into the leg stump. 26 (23) for Smriti. RCB are now 69/3.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, Pushed through, on a nagging length, on middle, swept square on the leg side for a single.

Ashleigh Gardner to Gautami Naik, Not in control but safe! Looped up, full and outside off, Gautami looks to go inside out but loses her shape in trying to do so. The ball is sliced off the outer half, but it clears the backtracking Anushka Sharma at the backward point. Two runs taken.

Happy Kumari gave away 10 runs in her first over on debut. Will she continue? Nopes. Ashleigh Gardner brings herself back into the attack. Her first over went for 14 runs.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, Stays full, on middle and leg, Gautami flicks it through square leg for a single.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, Rapped on the pads! Looks to be heading down leg. Full and angled in at the pads, Naik plays all around it and wears it on the front pad. The angle would have taken the ball past the leg stump.

Sophie Devine to Smriti Mandhana, A bit of inward shape, full and on middle, Mandhana knocks it to long off for a run.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, At the sticks, on a length, Naik turns it wide of mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, Nearly sneaked through! This skids through and keeps a bit low, on a back of a length. Gautami hurriedly drops her bat down on the ball and the ball squirts off an inside edge to short fine leg.

Sophie Devine to Gautami Naik, FOUR! Sophie Devine is welcomed with a boundary. Devine starts with a floater, on a length, on off, Naik is quick to get onto the front foot and just swings through the line. Lofts it over mid off and picks up a boundary.

Renuka Singh Thakur is done with her spell and it will be Sophie Devine, who will replace her in the attack.

Happy Kumari to Gautami Naik, Full and on middle, Naik wrists it wide of mid-wicket for a single. The 50-run stand comes up between this pair.

Happy Kumari to Gautami Naik, MISFIELD, FOUR! Kanika Ahuja should have done better there. Happy lands it on a back of a length, outside off, Naik presses on the back foot and looks to force it away through the off side. Hits it a bit uppishly and it goes on the bounce to extra cover. Ahuja is a bit late to move to her right and fails to get her body behind the ball. The ball gets past her and races away.

Happy Kumari to Smriti Mandhana, Happy goes into the surface, over middle, this does not bounce much. Mandhana gets her hands low and chips it in front of deep mid-wicket for a single.

Happy Kumari to Smriti Mandhana, Kumari tries to pitch the ball up but ends up serving a low full toss, on off. Mandhana pushes it with a straight bat to mid off.

Happy Kumari to Gautami Naik, On a good length, outside off, Gautami punches it through covers and gets to the other end.

Happy Kumari to Gautami Naik, Wide! Fuller, near the tramline on off, Gautami shimmies down the track and has a swing at it but misses. A tight call, but it has gone the way of the batting side.

Happy Kumari to Smriti Mandhana, Angling away from the left-hander, bowled into the wicket. The ball keeps a bit low but Smriti adjusts and pulls it behind square leg for a single.

Happy Kumari to Smriti Mandhana, Wide! Sprayed down leg by Kumari, on a back of a length. Mandhana swings but fails to lay any bat on it. 50 comes up for RCB!

STRATEGIC TIME-OUT! The first 7 overs have certainly belonged to the home side and Gujarat Giants have picked up a couple of big wickets, all while keeping the scoring rate in check. However, we are now seeing the dew take effect a bit and with Smriti Mandhana at the crease, expect RCB to come hard at the bowlers. GG will look to keep things in check in the middle phase by picking up wickets, whereas RCB will hope this stand between Mandhana and Naik grows and lays down the platform for someone like Richa Ghosh later in the fray. Also, we will now see the debutant, Happy Kumari, in action with the ball.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, The length is pushed up, on off, Smriti strokes it in front of square on the off side and keeps the strike with a single. An economical outing for Renuka. She ends with figures of 4-0-23-1.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! Nicely done! This is on a back of a length, on middle. It comes at waist height and Mandhana swivels quickly and gets her hands high to control the shot. Pulls it to the left of the fielder at deep square leg for a four.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Full and honing in at the sticks, Naik plants her front foot across and pushes out in front of her body. Ekes out an inside edge that goes behind square leg for a single.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Pace off from Renuka, on a good length, outside off, Gautami looks to force it away on the off side but is beaten on the outside edge.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, In and around off, on a short of a length, Gautami dabs it down on the off side.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, SIX! All the way! Thakur gets the ball to move back into the right-hander, on a length, on middle and leg. Naik picks it up off her pads and manages to clear the leaping Georgia Wareham at the deep mid-wicket fence.

Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, Going across the left-hander, on a back of a length, Mandhana stabs it down on the off side. At the end of the Powerplay, RCB are 37/2.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, Naik will feel that she has missed out here! Gautam angles it into the pads, on a short of a length. Naik swivels to get it away but fails to hit it wide enough of short fine leg. Tanuja Kanwer dives to her left and makes a half-stop. Just a single.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, Drags the length back, on off, Naik stays back and glides it with an open bat face to short third.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, FOUR! Gets it through! Fuller in length, outside off, Naik gets on the front foot and just caresses it to the right of the diving cover-point fielder. Georgia Wareham gives it a long chase and slides to push the ball away from the fence but her effort goes in vain.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, Dug in short, on off, Gautami hangs back and ends up swinging a bit too hard. She loses her shape and miscues it to mid on.

Kashvee Gautam to Gautami Naik, A bit of shape back into the right-hander, on a length, around off, Naik presses forward and taps it back on the deck.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Full of a length and around off, Gautami leans on and pushes it to the right of mid on for a single.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, A shot that was played under pressure by Naik. Length ball, pushed wide of the off stump. Gautami Naik goes reaching for it and ends up slicing it up and over the short third region for a couple of runs.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Oh, that's stayed really low. On a good length, looking to dart it back in from outside off. Naik hops across to cover th line but the ball nearly travels along the turf and beats the bat.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Oh, that could have easily gone back onto the stumps. Hard length outside off, Naik hangs back to guide it away but the ball keeps low and takes the inside edge. Thankfully for Naik and RCB, it goes back onto the pads.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, Nice and full, angled wide of the off stump. Mandhana reaches across and drives it to deep cover for a single.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Back of a length and angled into the body, Naik nudges it down through backward square leg and rotates the strike.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! A tad shorter again, on middle and leg. Mandhana rocks back and whips it away behind square leg and picks up yet another boundary.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, FIVE WIDES! That's costly from Gardner. Full and drifted down the leg side, Mandhana looks to sweep but misses and the keeper gets beaten as well. The ball rolls away into the fine leg fence for five wides.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Dragged length around off, Mandhana rocks back and works it leg side.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! That's gone through. Fractionally short and outside off, Mandhana hangs back and cuts it down just wide of point but the ball bounces off the other pitch and goes through for a boundary, giving no chance to the fielder of making a stop.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Good work from Naik! Another full ball from Gardner, at the stumps as well. Mandhana drives it straight back and Gardner dives to her left to make a stop. However, the ball deflects back onto the stumps at the other end and there is an appeal for a run out. The third umpire checks the replays and finds that Gautami Naik had her bat grounded comfortably inside the crease.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Flighted ball, fuller and on middle and leg, Mandhana takes the front leg out of the way and drives it to mid on.

Smriti Mandhana has had her struggles against off-spin in the past, and this is a favourable match-up from Gujarat’s perspective.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, WIDE! A bit fuller and a bit down the leg side. Mandhana misses the flick and a wide is called.

Ashleigh Gardner to Smriti Mandhana, Gardner starts around the wicket to Mandhana. This is drifted into the pads but bowled flatter. Smriti fails to get it away.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Oh, that should have been put away. Too full and wide, there to be hit. Gautami Naik gets on the front foot and just strokes it along the turf to the cover fielder.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, WIDE. Renuka goes wider on the crease and drifts this one in a long way from around off. The ball ends up down the leg side and a wide is called.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, On a hard length, pushed wide of the off stump and this one slides straight on. Naik reaches out to cut but misses.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, Full and just outside off, punched away through the vacant cover-point region for one more by Mandhana.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Fuller in length and around off, this one swings in late, Naik manages to flick it away through backward square leg and picks up a single.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Gautami Naik, Oh, that's unlucky! A touch fuller and around off, Gautami Naik shows the full face of the bat and drives it straight back but ends up hitting the stumps at the other end.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, Good length, in and around off, eased away just wide of cover-point for a single by Mandhana.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been rocked early. Gautami Naik joins her skipper out in the middle. She has opened the batting with Mandhana in the past in the Maharashtra Premier League.

Kashvee Gautam to Georgia Voll, OUT! CHOPPED ON! Again, a wicket falls on the final ball of the over and RCB are rocked early. Good-length delivery around off, Kashvee gets it to nip back in. Just a few minutes ago, we heard the on-air commentators talk about playing straight on this deck in the first few overs, but Georgia Voll decides to go for the cut. The line is too close to cut, but the ball also angles back in and takes the inside edge to go on and hit the stumps. RCB are 9/2 after 2 overs!

Kashvee Gautam to Georgia Voll, Much fuller and around off, Voll gets forward and drives it straight to mid off.

Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, Dragged length, slanting across from leg to off. This one stays a bit low but Mandhana hangs back and jams it out square through the off side for another single.

Kashvee Gautam to Georgia Voll, Good-length delivery, swings in from around off and ends up near the pads. Georgia Voll clips it uppishly but through the gap at mid-wicket and turns the strike over.

Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, Length ball, angled across the left-hander, Mandhana stays on the front foot and punches it wide of extra cover for a single.

Kashvee Gautam to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR! That's classic Mandhana. Overpitched from Kashvee, full and wide outside off. Smriti Mandhana leans across and creams the drive through covers for the first boundary of the game.

Gujarat Giants land the first punch. Georgia Voll is in at number 3. Kashvee Gautam will steam in from the other end.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, OUT! CAUGHT! Renuka Singh Thakur gives the Gujarat Giants a perfect start here. Renuka pitches the ball further up on the stumps, and Harris ends up playing a tentative shot. Generally, Harris would go hard at the lofted shot, but she tried to just chip it over mid on and ended up getting it more off the toe end of the bat. The ball goes towards mid on, where Ashleigh Gardner leaps up and snaffles the catch. RCB are 2/1 after the first over, and Harris has to walk back with just one run to her name.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, Mandhana is underway now. On a good length and angling away from off stump, Mandhana hangs back and eases it away past point for a single.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, Beaten! Good-length delivery, darting across the left-hander. Mandhana crouches and looks to reach out and tap it away but is beaten.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Smriti Mandhana, Full of a good length, angling across from middle and off, Smriti Mandhana taps it towards cover.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Agricultural from Grace Harris but RCB are off the mark. Good length, swinging back into the stumps, Grace swings it away off the inner half of the blade and gets it behind square leg for a single.

Renuka Singh Thakur to Grace Harris, Some swing right away for Renuka. This is bowled full and wide outside off, angles back in a long way. Grace Harris opts to stay watchful and defends it back to the bowler.

We are all set to get going. Ashleigh Gardner has her troops in a huddle for some final instructions. The fireworks go off as the team in orange takes the field. The two RCB openers, Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris, follow them. Renuka Singh Thakur has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Harris to face the first ball. Beth Mooney is standing up to the stumps. Here we go!

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Unchanged Playing XI) - Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Gautami Naik, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine De Klerk, Radha Yadav, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat and Lauren Bell.

Gujarat Giants (Playing XI) - Beth Mooney (WK), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma (In for Shivani Singh), Ashleigh Gardner (C), Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Happy Kumari (On WPL debut) (In for Rajeshwari Gayakwad) and Renuka Singh Thakur.

The captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Smriti Mandhana, believes that it is about doing simple things right. Adds that bowlers have been giving good starts, and with the bat, everyone knows their role. Admits that she did not know that a win tonight would help them qualify for the playoffs and shares that their focus is on taking one game at a time. Mentions that she is happy with the way everyone is showing up with the same intensity in every game, despite the hectic schedule. Informs that they are unchanged for this game.

Ashleigh Gardner, the captain of Gujarat Giants, says that they will bowl first and is excited to be playing in front of the home fans, but knows that RCB has fans everywhere they play. Informs that Anushka Sharma has recovered from her hand injury and is back in the lineup, and also Happy Kumari will be making her debut. Reckons that the pitch is suited to the batters but will look to pick up early wickets and take the game from there

Toss - 'Heads' is the call from Smriti Mandhana, but it has come down as a tail. Gujarat Giants elect to bowl!

PITCH REPORT - Former West Indies all-rounder Stacy-Ann King is pitchside. She informs that pitch number 4 will be used with the square boundaries measuring 52 metres on one side and 61 metres on the other, and the straight hit is 66 metres. King shares that it was on this wicket that these two sides played the season opener last year, which was a high-scoring affair. Former Indian skipper, Mithali Raj, joins her, and she observes a few cracks. She reckons that the wicket is rock hard and has been rolled well. Raj believes that this is a good batting wicket, but the pacers will get some bounce. Mithali opines that there won’t be a great deal on offer for the spinners on this surface. She expects the ball to come on nicely onto the bat under lights and anticipates it to be a high-scoring game.

In what is quite a startling statistic, the last time a captain won the toss and opted to bat first was Meg Lanning in the 2024 WPL final. The 33 matches since have all seen captains choosing to bowl first after winning the toss. The 2025 WPL season featured six games in Vadodara, and on all six occasions, the side chasing emerged victorious. Will the chasing trend continue at this venue? Stick around for the toss and team news.

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have enjoyed a perfect start to the season, winning all four of their games in Navi Mumbai. The fact that four different players have taken home the Player of the Match awards underlines how multiple individuals have stepped up for the side. Lauren Bell has quite literally stood tall in the Powerplay, setting the tone early and paving the way for others to take control through the middle phase.

The Gujarat Giants began the season promisingly, winning their first two games before suffering back-to-back defeats. As they start their home leg, they will be hoping to get their campaign back on track. Beth Mooney has had a relatively quiet season so far, and her return to form will be crucial in determining how far the Giants can go in the tournament. The recent losses have also seen them falter with the ball and in the field, and they will be keen to do better in that regard.

Hello, one and all! From Navi Mumbai, the 2026 Women’s Premier League caravan has now rolled into Vadodara for the second leg of the competition. As always, the DY Patil Stadium gave us countless memories, and let’s hope for plenty more of the same at the BCA Stadium. Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, two teams who got the previous season underway right here in Vadodara, now meet once again to kickstart this second phase of the tournament.

... MATCH DAY ...

As the Women's Premier League moves to Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, attention shifts to an important contest between Gujarat Giants (GG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), marking the start of the Vadodara leg. RCB arrive in supreme confidence, unbeaten after four matches and firmly placed at the top of the table, while Gujarat find themselves searching for answers following consecutive defeats. With the tournament entering a decisive phase, this fixture could shape the momentum for both sides heading deeper into the season. RCB's campaign has been built on balance, resilience and depth across departments. Smriti Mandhana getting back among the runs has only strengthened an already formidable unit, with her magnificent 96 against Delhi Capitals underlining her value at the top of the order. Crucially, RCB have continued to win even when Mandhana was quiet earlier in the season, reflecting the strength of their middle order and bowling attack. In the reverse fixture against Gujarat, they recovered from early trouble through a defining stand between Radha Yadav (66 off 47) and Richa Ghosh (44 off 28), posting 182, before their bowlers finished the job convincingly led by a sensational fifer from Shreyanka Patil. Beyond that game, Grace Harris has added explosive intent and flexibility through the middle overs, while Nadine De Klerk's dual role has allowed RCB to maintain control in both innings, contributing vital runs and overs when needed. With Shreyanka leading the spin charge and solid support from Lauren Bell, who has been sublime with the new ball, RCB look increasingly complete as a unit. For Gujarat Giants, the recent form line makes for concerning reading. They come into this clash on the back of two defeats, having failing to defend 192 against MI, and then coming up short against RCB, highlighting issues at the death and in key middle-over phases. There have still been positives, though, with Sophie Devine's all-round contributions providing balance, whether through timely wickets or aggressive runs at the top. The batting group, featuring Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner and Bharti Fulmali, has shown the ability to post big totals, but converting starts into match-winning performances remains a challenge. Georgia Wareham is also a big threat in both aspects of the game but she needs to find a bit of consistency. With the ball, Gujarat will need sharper execution, particularly from the Indian pace duo of Renuka Singh Thakur and Kashvee Gautam, whose impact with the new ball and at the back end could be decisive if the Giants are to contain RCB's deep batting line-up. With RCB eyeing another step towards sealing early qualification and Gujarat eager to halt their slide, this contest promises a high-quality battle where momentum, execution and big-game temperament will be tested under the Vadodara lights.