RCB Steals Victory from MI in Last Over Thriller, Four MI Players Let Team Down

Mumbai: In the opening match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pulled off a dramatic three-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI), snatching victory in the final over of a tense encounter.

At one stage, MI looked firmly in control of the game, but a sensational performance by Nadine de Klerk in the last over changed the course entirely. With 18 runs required off the final over bowled by Nat Saiver-Brent, de Klerk struck two fours and two sixes, handing RCB a thrilling win.

Key MI Players Who Fell Short

• Nat Saiver-Brent – The team’s most experienced all-rounder was expected to deliver under pressure but failed with the bat, scoring just 4 runs. Her bowling in the final over further proved costly, conceding the 18 runs that sealed MI’s fate.
• Harmanpreet Kaur – As captain, expectations were high for a match-defining innings. Kaur managed 20 runs, but a mistimed dismissal prevented MI from building a bigger total. Her decisions in the final overs, including bowling changes, also contributed to the loss.
• Amelia Kerr – Although her bowling was impressive, her batting was underwhelming. She scored only 4 runs off 15 balls, slowing the team’s run rate at a crucial stage. This lack of acceleration put additional pressure on the middle order.
• Shabnim Ismail – One of the world’s fastest bowlers, Ismail struggled to maintain her usual sharpness. In the final overs, she leaked crucial runs, including a boundary off Prema Rawat in the 19th over, which eased RCB’s chase.
• Saika Ishak – Tasked with MI’s spin bowling, Ishak had a rough outing, conceding 13 runs in her single over, further boosting RCB’s momentum.

Despite MI’s promising start and strong performances from certain players, RCB’s clinical finishing and de Klerk’s heroics turned the match around, proving that in WPL 2026, no lead is safe until the final ball is bowled.