RCB look to make it 5-in-5 as they face Gujarat Giants

The second and final leg of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 gets underway today at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) locking horns with Gujarat Giants (GG). RCB, champions in 2024, sit comfortably at the top of the points table with a flawless record of four wins from four matches. Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, find themselves third after a promising start of two wins, followed by back-to-back defeats that have stalled their momentum.

These two sides crossed paths not too long ago in this very season, when RCB registered a convincing 32-run victory. After posting an imposing 182, they bundled GG out for 150 to seal the contest. The teams faced each other on Friday and are set for a rematch within 72 hours, adding an extra layer of intrigue and intensity to this encounter.

That previous clash showcased RCB’s depth and resilience. Reduced to 43/4, RCB were rescued by a superb 105-run partnership between Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav, a stand that completely swung the momentum. The bowlers then took centre stage, with Lauren Bell and Shreyanka Patil running riot, sharing eight wickets between them to dismantle the Giants’ batting line-up.

As the sides prepare to meet once again, the spotlight will firmly be on the former RCB players now donning the Gujarat Giants jersey. Renuka Singh Thakur, Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham will all be keen to make a statement against their old franchise.Renuka, as expected, has been entrusted with the new ball and has operated inside the powerplay. However, the right-arm seamer is yet to have the kind of impact that was anticipated from her this season. Devine, on the other hand, began the tournament with a couple of fiery knocks but has since struggled, managing only single-digit scores in her last two outings—both of which ended in defeats for GG. The correlation is hard to ignore: when Devine fires, Gujarat tend to win. That said, her contributions with the ball have been noteworthy.Wareham, too, has been inconsistent, blowing hot and cold so far. The Giants will be hoping the Australian all-rounder can rise to the occasion and deliver with both bat and ball at a crucial stage of the tournament.

For Gujarat Giants, rediscovering their best form is essential if they are to remain firmly in the playoff race. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, in contrast, appear to have ticked all the right boxes. Their openers, Grace Harris and skipper Smriti Mandhana, have provided solid starts more often than not, and when they haven’t, the middle order led by Ghosh and Yadav has stepped up admirably. With Bell and Patil in sublime rhythm, the bowling unit looks well settled and formidable.

With stakes high and familiarity breeding rivalry, Round 2 of the RCB–GG clash promises to be a blockbuster. Vadodara is set for a thrilling curtain-raiser as the second and final leg of WPL 2026 gets underway in emphatic fashion.

Head-to-Head (Last 5 matches)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 3 | Gujarat Giants – 2

Match Details

Date – January 19, 2026

Time – 7:30 PM

Venue – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara

Live streaming – Star Sports Network, JioHotstar