Table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women will take on Mumbai Indians Women in match number 16 of Women’s Premier league (WPL 2026) at 7 PM IST on Monday. Smriti Mandhana and co, who have already qualified for the playoffs, lost their first game at the hands of DC on Saturday. meanwhile, defending champions Harmanpreet Kaur and co will be aiming to bounce back with a win and seal their spot in the playoffs with an emphatic win over RCB.
RCB vs MI WPL 2026 Match 16 Preview
RCB’s dominant five-match winning streak was finally halted by Delhi Capitals in their last outing, where their batting unit struggled on a slow Vadodara surface. However, Smriti Mandhana’s side remains the team to beat, sitting comfortably at the top of the table.
On the other hand, defending champions Mumbai Indians are enduring a nightmare run, having lost three consecutive matches. With only two wins from six games, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side must win their remaining fixtures to avoid a premature exit.
RCB vs MI Head-to-Head Record
The historical rivalry is neck-and-neck, but recent momentum favors the Bold Army.
- Total Matches Played: 9
- RCB Won: 5
- MI Won: 4
- In WPL 2026: RCB won the season opener by 3 wickets.
WPL 2026 Match 16: Predicted XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (c), Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Lauren Bell, Gautami Naik.
Mumbai Indians: Hayley Matthews, Sajeevan Sajana, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Nicola Carey, Amanjot Kaur, Rahila Firdous (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque, Vaishnavi Sharma.
Players to Watch Out For
- Smriti Mandhana (RCB): The leading run-getter for RCB (230 runs) will be hungry to bounce back after a rare failure in the previous game.
- Harmanpreet Kaur (MI): Currently the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament (240 runs), the MI skipper is the lone warrior in an inconsistent batting lineup.
- Nadine de Klerk (RCB): A nightmare for MI in the reverse fixture, her variations (10 wickets so far) will be crucial on the Vadodara track.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI): With 219 runs and 7 wickets, her all-round prowess is MI’s best hope for a turnaround.
BCA Stadium Pitch Report
The Vadodara surface has shown signs of slowing down. While it offers a consistent bounce for batters who settle in, the spinners have dominated the middle overs. Chasing has become slightly easier under lights due to potential dew, though the average first-innings score has dipped to around 148-150.
RCB vs MI Match Prediction: Who will win?
While Mumbai Indians are known for their “bounce back” ability in high-pressure situations, Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter this contest as favorites. RCB’s bowling depth, led by Lauren Bell and Nadine de Klerk, looks more settled than MI’s attack, which has struggled to defend totals recently.
Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win and secure their spot in the WPL 2026 Final.
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