The Women’s Premier League 2026 heats up as Mumbai Indians take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 16 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on January 26. These two powerhouses have already clashed once this season, with RCB pulling off a stunning last-ball win in the opener. Now, MI gets a chance to settle the score.
RCB comes into this match riding high after Nadine de Klerk’s match-winning heroics in their first meeting. The South African all-rounder grabbed four wickets and smashed an unbeaten 63 to seal that thriller. Mumbai Indians, despite being the defending champions, will be hungry to bounce back and prove that loss was just a bump in the road.
With the head-to-head record now tied at 4-4 after eight meetings, this match becomes even more important. Both teams want bragging rights, and both have something to prove. Expect intense cricket, smart tactics, and another nail-biter at Vadodara.
Match Details: MI vs RCB
Here are the key details of MI vs RCB Match 16:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians, Match 16 |
| Series | Women’s Premier League 2026 |
| Date | January 26, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | BCA Stadium, Vadodara |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Broadcast | Star Sports |
| Match Referee | Niyati Lokur (IND) |
| Umpires | Anish Sahasrabudhe, Vrinda Rathi, Ajitesh K Argal (all IND) |
Head-to-Head Record: MI vs RCB
| Statistic | MI | RCB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 8 | 8 |
| Wins | 4 | 4 |
Performance in Last 1 Year
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCB | 13 | 8 | 5 | 61.54% |
| MI | 15 | 9 | 6 | 60.00% |
Top Performers in the Last Year
Batters:
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI): 677 runs
- Smriti Mandhana (RCB): 389 runs
Bowlers:
- Amelia Kerr (MI): 28 wickets
- Georgia Wareham (RCB): 12 wickets
Recent Clash: RCB’s Thriller Win in Match 1
These two teams already met in the WPL 2026 opener on January 9 at DY Patil Stadium. RCB pulled off a dramatic 3-wicket win on the final ball. MI posted 154/6 after Sajeevan Sajana (45 off 25 balls) and Nicola Carey (40 off 29 balls) put together an 82-run stand for the fifth wicket.
RCB’s chase looked shaky at 121/7 with 34 runs needed from 18 balls. But Nadine de Klerk had other plans. She stayed unbeaten on 63 off 44 balls and hit 6, 4, 6, 4 off the last four deliveries to seal the win. De Klerk also took 4/26 with the ball earlier, making it one of the best all-round performances in WPL history.
MI will remember that loss. They had the game in their hands, but poor fielding in the death overs cost them dearly. Amelia Kerr bowled brilliantly (2/13 in 4 overs), but it wasn’t enough to save the day.
Pitch Report: BCA Stadium, Vadodara
Here is what you can expect from the pitch at Vadodara:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pitch Character | Balanced. The surface offers something for both batters and bowlers. True bounce helps stroke play, while pace bowlers get some assistance early on. |
| Early Advantage | Pace bowlers. The new ball moves around in the first few overs. Seamers who hit good lengths can trouble batters early. |
| Mid-Game Shift | Spinners. As the match goes on, spinners find more grip. The surface slows down a bit, helping turn bowlers. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 145-155 runs. |
| Toss Strategy | Chase. Teams batting second have found success here. The pitch gets easier to bat on under lights. |
Probable Playing XI
Here are the likely playing 11 for both teams:
Mumbai Indians (MI)
G Kamalini (WK), Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Sajana Sajeevan, Sanskriti Gupta, Saika Ishaque, Shabnim Ismail, Milly Illingworth
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine de Klerk, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell
Team Analysis
Here is some key information about both teams:
Mumbai Indians (MI)
The defending champions still have one of the strongest squads in the tournament. Harmanpreet Kaur leads a team packed with match-winners. Nat Sciver-Brunt remains their most valuable player after scoring 677 runs in the last year. Amelia Kerr has been their top wicket-taker with 28 scalps and can change games with both bat and ball.
MI’s most significant concern after the season opener will be their death bowling and fielding. They let the game slip from a winning position, and Harmanpreet will want those issues fixed before this rematch. Shabnim Ismail still brings raw pace, and the spin duo of Kerr and Saika Ishaque gives them variety.
Sajeevan Sajana showed her value with that brilliant 45 in Match 1. Along with Nicola Carey’s all-round skills, MI has depth in its middle order. G Kamalini provides stability at the top and is reliable behind the stumps.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
RCB enters this match with sky-high confidence after that thrilling win. Nadine de Klerk has emerged as their biggest match-winner. Her all-round performance in the opener (4/26 and 63*) showed she can handle pressure at the highest level. Captain Smriti Mandhana brings experience and class at the top of the order.
The bowling attack looks strong with Lauren Bell, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shreyanka Patil sharing duties. They kept MI to 154 in their first meeting, which shows they can execute plans well. Radha Yadav adds spin options in the middle overs.
RCB’s middle order still has questions. Grace Harris can be explosive but inconsistent. Richa Ghosh didn’t fire in the last game. If the top order fails, RCB might struggle, though de Klerk proved she can bail them out from tough spots.
Key Players to Watch
Here are the players who could decide this match:
Best Batter: Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI)
The England all-rounder has been in sensational form, scoring 677 runs in the last year. She barely got going in the season opener (just 4 runs), so she’ll be hungry for a big score. Sciver-Brunt reads the game brilliantly and can bat through the innings or accelerate when needed. If she fires, MI becomes very hard to beat.
Best Bowler: Nadine de Klerk (RCB)
The South African was sensational in Match 1, taking 4/26. She swings the ball early and can pick up crucial wickets in the powerplay. Her ability to bowl in the death overs also makes her valuable. De Klerk has already shown she thrives under pressure against this MI lineup.
Match Prediction
This match is genuinely tough to call. The head-to-head record stands level at 4-4, and both teams have shown they can beat each other. RCB comes in with momentum after their thriller win, while MI will be fired up to settle scores.
MI’s experience and deeper squad might give them a slight edge. They have more match-winners and won’t make the same fielding mistakes twice. Harmanpreet Kaur knows how to bounce back, and players like Sciver-Brunt and Kerr rarely have two bad games in a row.
RCB’s trump card remains Nadine de Klerk. If she delivers another big performance, RCB can definitely win again. Smriti Mandhana needs to bat deep if RCB wants to control the game. Their bowling attack has shown it can contain MI’s batters.
Winner Prediction: Mumbai Indians (MI)
The defending champs have too much quality to lose twice to the same team in one season. They’ll come prepared with better plans and sharper execution. Expect a close game, but MI should edge it this time around.
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Conclusion: MI Is Coming Back For Revenge of Match 1 Against RCB
MI vs RCB Match 16 promises to be another exciting contest. Both teams know each other well after their recent thriller.RCB Alreday Qualify for the Playoffs. Vadodara will host two teams desperate to win for different reasons: MI wants revenge, RCB wants to prove Match 1 was no fluke.
With top performers like Sciver-Brunt, Kerr, Mandhana, and de Klerk on show, fans can expect quality cricket. This fixture never disappoints, and the WPL 2026 rematch should be no different.
