De Klerk’s all-round heroics power RCB past MI in WPL opener

Nadine de Klerk produced a breathtaking all-round performance to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a dramatic three-wicket victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) on Friday in Navi Mumbai.

In a match that swung repeatedly, the South African all-rounder first dismantled Mumbai’s batting with a four-wicket haul and then played a sensational unbeaten knock under pressure to guide RCB to victory off the final ball, marking a memorable start to the 2026 season.

After opting to field, RCB struck early and kept chipping away at wickets to put Mumbai Indians on the back foot. De Klerk was the standout with the ball, returning impressive figures of 4 for 26 as MI were restricted to 154 for 6 in their 20 overs. Lauren Bell and Shreyanka Patil provided good support, picking up a wicket each.

Mumbai struggled for momentum early, losing key batters at regular intervals. Opener Amelia Kerr endured a difficult stay at the crease and was dismissed by Bell without making much impact. Nat Sciver-Brunt also failed to get going, falling cheaply, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was removed by de Klerk just as she looked to steady the innings.

Gunalan Kamalini provided some stability at the top with a measured 32, but Mumbai were still reduced to 67 for 4 midway through the innings. The innings was revived by a crucial fifth-wicket partnership between Sajeevan Sajana and Nicola Carey. Sajana played a fluent knock of 45 off 25 balls, striking seven fours and a six, while Carey contributed a composed 40. Their 82-run stand lifted MI to a competitive total.

Chasing 155, RCB began brightly through openers Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris. The pair attacked the MI bowlers early, racing to 47 for 2 inside five overs. Harris struck 25 off just 12 balls, while Mandhana looked in good touch with 18.

However, Mumbai hit back strongly as RCB suffered a sudden collapse. Mandhana and Harris were dismissed in quick succession, triggering a batting slide that saw RCB slump to 65 for 5. Dayalan Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav departed cheaply, leaving the chase in serious trouble.

At the halfway mark, RCB were 75 for 5, still needing 80 runs from 60 balls. De Klerk then took charge of the innings, displaying composure and calculated aggression. She found brief support from Arundhati Reddy, who scored a valuable 20, but wickets continued to fall at the other end.

The match boiled down to a tense final over with RCB needing 18 runs and three wickets in hand. De Klerk held her nerve, striking a six and a four early in the over, before smashing another six off the penultimate ball. With four needed from the final delivery, she calmly struck a boundary off Nat Sciver-Brunt to seal a stunning victory.

De Klerk finished unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls, including seven fours and two sixes, as RCB reached 157 for 7. Prema Rawat remained not out on 8 at the other end.

For Mumbai, Nicola Carey and Amelia Kerr took two wickets each, but it was not enough to prevent a heartbreaking opening defeat. RCB, meanwhile, announced their title ambitions early, thanks to a match-winning performance from de Klerk that will be remembered as one of the finest in WPL history.

Brief Scores:

Mumbai Indians:

154/6 in 20 overs

(Sajeevan Sajana 45, Nicola Carey 40; Nadine de Klerk 4/26)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru:

157/7 in 20 overs

(Nadine de Klerk 63*; Amelia Kerr 2/13, Nicola Carey 2/25)

Result:

RCB won by 3 wickets

Player of the Match:

Nadine de Klerk