The Women’s Premier League 2026 keeps getting better as Royal Challengers Bengaluru lock horns with UP Warriorz in Match 18. This one goes down on January 29 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. RCB comes in flying high after winning all five games so far this season. Meanwhile, UPW has found its feet after a shaky start and won two of its last three matches.
Smriti Mandhana’s RCB has already booked its playoff spot and looks unstoppable. Their batting clicks from top to bottom, and the bowling has been sharp when it matters. On the other side, Meg Lanning’s UPW has shown real fight. Their recent wins over Mumbai Indians proved they can beat anyone on their day.
These two teams have already met once this season. RCB crushed UPW by nine wickets in Navi Mumbai, with Grace Harris smashing 85 off just 40 balls. But UPW knows how to bounce back. In WPL 2025, they beat RCB twice, including a Super Over thriller. This rematch promises plenty of action.
Match Details: RCB vs UPW
Here are the key details of RCB vs UPW:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz, Match 18 |
| Series | Women’s Premier League 2026 |
| Date | January 29, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | BCA Stadium, Vadodara |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Broadcast | Star Sports |
Head-to-Head Record: RCB vs UPW
| Statistic | RCB-W | UPW-W |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 7 | 7 |
| Wins | 4 | 3 |
Performance in Last 1 Year
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCB-W | 13 | 8 | 5 | 61.54% |
| UPW-W | 13 | 5 | 8 | 38.46% |
Top Performers in the Last Year
Batters:
- Smriti Mandhana (RCB-W): 389 runs
- Phoebe Litchfield (UPW-W): 211 runs
Bowlers:
- Sophie Ecclestone (UPW-W): 13 wickets
- Georgia Wareham (RCB-W): 12 wickets
Recent Clash: RCB vs UPW (Match 5, WPL 2026)
RCB crushed UPW by 9 wickets in their first meeting this season at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Batting first, UPW struggled to get going and finished with just 143/5 in their 20 overs. Deepti Sharma (45* off 35) and Deandra Dottin (40* off 37) steadied things with an unbeaten partnership, but the total never looked enough. Nadine de Klerk picked up two wickets in her first two balls to put UPW on the back foot early. Shreyanka Patil also grabbed two wickets, while Lauren Bell was economical with 1/16 from her four overs.
The chase was a walk in the park for RCB. Grace Harris played one of the best innings of the tournament, smashing 85 off just 40 balls. She attacked from the first pitch and took the game away from UPW before they could even settle in. Smriti Mandhana (47* off 32) played the perfect supporting role, and together they chased down the target in just 12.1 overs with 47 balls to spare. Harris earned the Player of the Match award for her match-winning knock.
Pitch Report: BCA Stadium Vadodara
Here is the pitch report that tells us the quality of the pitch:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pitch Character | Flat and batter-friendly. The surface offers true bounce and good carry, letting batters play through the line with confidence. |
| Early Advantage | Pacers. The new ball provides slight lateral movement in the opening overs before the surface flattens out. |
| Mid-Game Shift | Spinners. They find some grip as the match goes on, but evening dew reduces their impact. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 165-175 runs. |
| Dew Factor | Heavy. Teams batting second have found it easier to chase targets under lights at this venue. |
| Toss Strategy | Bowl first. Chasing teams have had success here, and captains will want to bat under lights. |
RCB-W vs UPW-W Match 18: Winning & Toss Odds
| Platform | 1xBet | Stake | 4RABET | BetVibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCB-W Win Odds | 2.10 | 2.12 | 2.13 | 2.15 |
| UPW-W Win Odds | 1.65 | 1.67 | 1.68 | 1.69 |
| Toss Odds (RCB-W) | 1.90 | 1.85 | 1.87 | 1.88 |
| Toss Odds (UPW-W) | 1.90 | 1.85 | 1.87 | 1.88 |
Probable Playing XI
Here are the probable playing 11 of both teams:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB-W)
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
UP Warriorz (UPW-W)
Meg Lanning (C), Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Deandra Dottin, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shweta Sehrawat (WK), Harleen Deol, Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, and Asha Sobhana
Team Analysis
Here is some key information about both teams:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB-W)
RCB has been the standout team this season. They’ve won all five matches and already secured their playoff spot. Smriti Mandhana leads from the front with the bat, scoring 166 runs so far this tournament. She nearly hit a century against Delhi Capitals, falling just four runs short with a stunning 96 off 61 balls.
The batting depth is serious. Georgia Voll has looked solid at the top, while Grace Harris provides the firepower in the middle order. Her 85 off 40 balls against UPW earlier this season showed what she can do. Richa Ghosh adds punch lower down, and Gautami Naik stepped up with a match-winning 73 against Gujarat Giants.
Bowling is where RCB really shines. Nadine de Klerk and Lauren Bell have picked up 10 and 9 wickets each. Bell swings the new ball beautifully, while de Klerk can strike at any time. Shreyanka Patil took a five-wicket haul against Gujarat Giants, and the spin duo of Radha Yadav and Linsey Smith keeps things tight in the middle overs.
UP Warriorz (UPW-W)
UPW had a rough start, losing its first three games. But they’ve turned things around big time. Back-to-back wins over defending champions Mumbai Indians showed real character. Captain Meg Lanning has found her groove after a slow start, smashing 70 off 45 balls in their last win.
Phoebe Litchfield has been their best batter this season with 211 runs in four matches. She scored 78 against Gujarat Giants in the opener and added 61 against Mumbai. The Lanning-Litchfield combo put together a 119-run stand against MI, the second-highest partnership in UPW’s WPL history.
Harleen Deol brings grit to the middle order. She responded brilliantly after being controversially retired out against Delhi, smashing 64 off 39 balls to lead the chase against MI the very next day. Chloe Tryon and Deandra Dottin give them finishing muscle. Sophie Ecclestone remains their trump card with the ball, and Deepti Sharma controls the middle overs well.
Key Players to Watch
Here are the best players to watch out for in this battle:
Best Batter: Smriti Mandhana (RCB-W)
The RCB captain has been in terrific form this tournament. Her 96 against Delhi Capitals showed her class as she nearly carried the team home single-handedly. Mandhana has scored 389 runs in the last year against UPW and RCB’s other opponents. She times the ball sweetly and can shift gears whenever needed. With the pitch expected to favor batters, she could have another big game.
Best Bowler: Sophie Ecclestone (UPW-W)
England’s left-arm spinner has been UPW’s biggest match-winner. She took 13 wickets in the last year and played a starring role in both UPW victories over RCB in WPL 2025. In the Super Over win at Bengaluru, Ecclestone delivered with both bat and ball. She smashed 33 off 19 to tie the scores, then bowled a brilliant Super Over to seal the win. Her slower variations and tight lines make her tough to score against.
Match Prediction
RCB looks like the team to beat in this one. They’ve won five straight games and already qualified for the playoffs. Their batting runs deep, and the bowling has clicked from ball one. When they beat UPW earlier this season, Grace Harris made it look easy with that stunning 85 off 40 balls.
UPW, though, has momentum on its side. Two wins over Mumbai Indians have boosted their confidence. Lanning and Litchfield are scoring runs, and the bowling has improved. They also have great memories of their last season against RCB. The Super Over thriller and the 12-run win show they know how to beat this team.
The pitch at BCA Stadium favors the chasing side. Whoever wins the toss will likely bowl first. Evening dew could make defending totals harder, so early wickets will be key. If UPW can restrict RCB’s free-scoring top order, they have a real shot.
Winner Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB-W)
RCB’s unbeaten run gives them the edge here. They’ve handled pressure well all tournament and have match-winners across the lineup. Mandhana, Harris, Bell, and de Klerk can each turn a game on their own. UPW will fight hard, but RCB’s all-round strength should see them through.
Still, this could be closer than the scoreline suggests. UPW beat MI twice in a row, so they’re capable of pulling off an upset. If Ecclestone and Deepti control the middle overs, RCB might find the pressure tough to handle.
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Conclusion
The RCB vs UPW clash in Match 18 has all the makings of a cracker. You’ve got the league leaders taking on a team that’s found its rhythm at just the right time. Both sides have quality players, and both know what’s at stake. For RCB, it’s about maintaining their perfect record as they are already qualified for the playoffs. For UPW, it’s about proving they belong in the playoff race.
This is the kind of game that defines a tournament. The stakes are high, the talent is world-class, and the conditions should make for a run-fest. Whether you’re rooting for Mandhana’s in-form RCB or Lanning’s resilient UPW, this one’s worth watching till the last ball.
