The Women’s Premier League 2026 saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru deliver a commanding performance against Gujarat Giants at Vadodara on January 19. RCB crushed Gujarat Giants by 61 runs, with Gautami Naik playing a match-winning knock of 73 runs off 55 balls. The Indian batter held the innings together after early wickets, helping RCB post a competitive total of 178/6.
Gujarat Giants never got going in their chase. They lost three wickets in the powerplay for just 29 runs and could never recover. Ashleigh Gardner fought hard with 54 runs off 43 balls, but the required run rate kept climbing. Sayali Satghare picked up three wickets, while Nadine de Klerk bowled brilliantly, giving away just 17 runs in her four overs.
Match Summary
Here is the complete match summary of this one-sided contest:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Score | 178/6 (20 overs) |
| Gujarat Giants Women Score | 117/8 (20 overs) |
| Match Result | RCB won by 61 runs |
| Best Batting (RCB) | Gautami Naik – 73 off 55 balls (7 fours, 1 six) |
| Best Batting (GG) | Ashleigh Gardner – 54 off 43 balls (5 fours, 1 six) |
| Best Bowling (RCB) | Sayali Satghare – 3/21 in 4 overs (Econ: 5.25) |
| Best Bowling (GG) | Kashvee Gautam – 2/38 in 4 overs (Econ: 9.50) |
| Player of the Match | Gautami Naik (RCB) |
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision seemed risky when RCB lost two wickets in the first two overs. However, Gautami Naik and Mandhana steadied the ship with a crucial partnership before the captain fell. Naik then combined with Richa Ghosh to take the game away from Gujarat Giants.
RCB Innings: 178/6 in 20 Overs
RCB had a nightmare start in the powerplay. Grace Harris fell for just 1 run in the first over, caught by Ashleigh Gardner off Renuka Singh. Georgia Voll followed soon after, bowled by Kashvee Gautam for 1. At 9 for 2 in less than two overs, RCB was in deep trouble.
Smriti Mandhana and Gautami Naik came together and rebuilt the innings. They put on 60 runs for the third wicket, taking RCB out of danger. Mandhana played some elegant shots, hitting four boundaries in her 26 off 23 balls. Gardner eventually got her out with an lbw decision confirmed by DRS.
Gautami Naik was the star of the innings. She reached her fifty off 42 balls with four boundaries and a six. Richa Ghosh joined her and played aggressively, smashing 27 off just 20 balls. Their fourth-wicket partnership of 69 runs in 35 balls changed the momentum completely. Ghosh hit three boundaries before Gardner caught her off Sophie Devine.
Naik finally fell for 73 in the 18th over, bowled by Gardner. Her innings included 7 fours and 1 six at a strike rate of 132.72. The late cameos from Radha Yadav (17 off 8) and Shreyanka Patil (8 off 2) pushed RCB to 178/6. The extras tally of 21, including 15 wides, also helped RCB’s cause.
Gujarat Giants Chase: 117/8 in 20 Overs
Gujarat Giants’ chase fell apart in the powerplay. Sayali Satghare struck twice in the second over. First, she bowled Beth Mooney for 3. Next ball, Sophie Devine edged to Georgia Voll at slip without scoring. At 4 for 2 after 1.5 overs, the chase was already in trouble.
Lauren Bell made it worse by bowling Kanika Ahuja for a duck in the third over. Gujarat Giants were now 5 for 3 in 2.5 overs, chasing 179. The required run rate was climbing quickly, and wickets kept falling.
Anushka Sharma tried to steady things with 18 off 20 balls, but Nadine de Klerk got her in the seventh over. Kashvee Gautam also fell cheaply for 4 runs. At the first strategic timeout, Gujarat Giants were struggling at 45 for 4 in 9 overs, with the asking rate above 13 per over.
Ashleigh Gardner fought hard as the lone warrior. She reached her fifty off 39 balls with 5 fours and a six. But she found no support at the other end. Georgia Wareham made just 2, and Bharti Fulmali contributed 14 before falling to Shreyanka Patil.
Gardner finally fell in the 17th over for 54, caught by Prema Rawat off Satghare. It was game over for Gujarat Giants. Tanuja Kanwar (11 not out) and Renuka Singh (6 not out) saw out the remaining overs as Gujarat Giants finished on 117/8, losing by 61 runs.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match – Gautami Naik Shines Bright
The Indian batter delivered when her team needed her most:
- With the bat: 73 off 55 balls (7 fours, 1 six)
- Strike rate: 132.72
- CricInfo MVP rating: 90.45 points
Naik walked in when RCB was 2 for 2 in the second over. She stayed till the 18th over and rebuilt the innings through partnerships with Mandhana and Ghosh. Her knock of 73 runs formed the backbone of RCB’s total. Without her contribution, RCB would have struggled to post a competitive score.
Conclusion: What This Result Means
RCB’s dominant 61-run victory boosts their net run rate and strengthens their position in the WPL 2026 points table as they sit on top of the table. The team showed excellent batting depth with contributions from multiple players. Their bowling unit also delivered, taking 8 wickets and restricting Gujarat Giants well below the target.
Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, have much to worry about. Their top-order collapse in the powerplay cost them the game. Ashleigh Gardner’s 54 was a lone bright spot, but the team needs better performances from their other batters. The bowling also leaked runs, giving away 21 extras in the first innings.
This match showed why Gautami Naik is becoming one of the most reliable batters in the WPL. Her calm approach under pressure and ability to build partnerships make her a valuable asset for RCB.
