After a break of four days, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) return to the DY Patil Stadium aiming for a third straight win when they face Gujarat Giants (GG) on Friday evening. After two impressive chases, Smriti Mandhana’s side looks settled and confident, with Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk not letting RCB miss Ellyse Perry. Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, arrive with four points from three games but suffered their first defeat last time out and will be keen to respond quickly.
The contest also brings a fascinating individual battle. Mandhana vs Gardner remains the decisive subplot, with the GG captain dismissing the RCB skipper nine times in T20s, conceding only 156 runs off 156 balls in 27 innings. However, Mandhana has turned the tide recently in ODIs, smashing 96 runs off 71 balls without being dismissed by Gardner in 2025.
RCB-W vs GG-W: Match Details
- Match: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women vs Gujarat Giants Women, Match 9
- Date: Friday, January 16, 2026
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar
- Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Match Preview: RCB vs GG
RCB have looked one of the most organised sides in the tournament so far. Mandhana is leading from the front, Richa Ghosh has added late impetus, and Lauren Bell has consistently provided early breakthroughs. The inclusion of Linsey Smith has strengthened the spin department, even though Radha Yadav went unused in the last game.
Gujarat Giants rely heavily on the experience of Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine at the top. Gardner remains their most influential player with bat and ball, while Bharti Fulmali’s finishing power has been a major positive. However, the middle order still feels a touch fragile, and the Giants will want more intent in the middle overs.
Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 5
- RCB Won: 3
- Gujarat Giants Won: 2
Pitch Report: DY Patil Stadium
After eight matches, the surface has started to slow down, bringing spinners into play. Dew in the evening continues to favour chasing teams, and captains winning the toss are likely to bowl first again.
| Type | Matches | Runs | Balls | Wickets | Average | Best Spell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pace | 6 | 1146 | 806 | 44 | 26.04 | 5/33 |
| Spin | 6 | 959 | 577 | 23 | 41.69 | 3/24 |
Team News & Probable XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
RCB are expected to remain unchanged after two wins. Bell and Smith will again be key in the PowerPlay and middle overs.
Probable XI: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
Gujarat Giants
Anushka Sharma could return if fit, replacing Ayushi Soni. The Giants may also consider using Gardner earlier against Mandhana.
Probable XI: Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma/Ayushi Soni, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Thakur
RCB vs GG: Who will win today’s WPL match?
Both teams have match-winners, but RCB appear the more complete unit at the moment. Their batting depth, combined with Bell’s new-ball bowling, gives them a slight edge. Gujarat will depend on Gardner and Mooney to deliver big performances, yet the momentum clearly sits with Bengaluru.
Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W) to win Match 9 of WPL 2026.
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