RCB Elects to Bowl Against UP Warriors in WPL 2026 Clash

Vadodara, Jan 2026 :Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the toss and opted to bowl first against UP Warriors in the 18th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the BCA Stadium on Thursday. RCB had already secured a playoff berth after winning their first five matches, but a recent two-match losing streak has raised questions about their momentum heading into the latter stages of the tournament.

After winning the toss, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana said, “We will field first. It’s a good wicket for batting. We did a lot of things right to win our first five matches, so we’ll just keep things simple. We have one change in the team – Pooja Vastrakar comes in for Gautami Naik.”

On the other hand, UP Warriors captain Meg Lanning emphasized the urgency for her side. “We have to win every match, so we have nothing to lose. It was a good break; we focused on the things we needed to improve, the areas where we could do better,” Lanning said. UP Warriors made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Amy Jones in place of Lichfield and giving Simran Shaikh a chance instead of Navgire.

Currently, UP Warriors sit fifth on the points table, having lost four of their six matches. With playoffs hopes hanging by a thread, a win against RCB is crucial. In contrast, Gujarat Giants are second on the table, winning four of seven matches, while Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are in third and fourth positions, respectively, both with three wins out of seven games. All four teams remain in contention for the playoffs.

UP Warriors have made strategic changes this season, appointing Abhishek Nayar as head coach and bringing in Meg Lanning as captain, replacing Deepti Sharma. However, these changes have not yet translated into the consistency required for a playoff push.

The match features a strong lineup from both sides. UP Warriors’ playing XI includes Meg Lanning (captain), Simran Shaikh, Amy Jones (wicketkeeper), Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Shobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, and Kranti Gaud.

RCB’s squad features Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (captain), Georgia Wareham, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, and Lauren Bell.

With both teams fielding competitive lineups and playoff stakes high, Thursday’s match promises to be an intense encounter. RCB will look to regain form after their back-to-back losses, while UP Warriors aim to keep their postseason hopes alive with a crucial victory. Fans can expect a fiercely contested battle on a wicket that offers something for both batters and bowlers.

Team Maverick