Nadine de Klerk’s All-Round Heroics Power RCB to Stunning WPL 2026 Opener Win

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women kicked off their WPL 2026 campaign with a thrilling win over Mumbai Indians Women in the season opener at Navi Mumbai. Nadine de Klerk produced a match-winning all-round show to seal a famous three-wicket victory on Friday night.

Bowling first, RCB were kept in the game by de Klerk’s superb four-over spell. She picked up 4 wickets for 26 runs and removed some of Mumbai’s biggest names at crucial moments.

De Klerk dismissed Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Nicola Carey, and Sajeevan Sajana to stop Mumbai from pulling away.

Despite her effort, RCB were pushed on the back foot during the chase. They slipped to 65 for 5, with the required rate climbing and the pressure firmly on the batting side.

That is when de Klerk took control with the bat. She first steadied the innings and then switched gears, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 44 balls with seven fours and two sixes.

Her knock placed her in the history books as only the second player in WPL history to score a fifty and take a four-wicket haul in the same match.

The game reached a dramatic finish at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. RCB needed 18 runs from the final over, bowled by Sciver-Brunt.

After two dot balls, de Klerk exploded. She smashed a six, a four, another six, and then found the boundary off the last ball to finish the chase in stunning style.

De Klerk scored all 20 runs in the final over herself, leaving the Mumbai Indians players and fans completely stunned by the turnaround.

The match marked the opening game of Women’s Premier League 2026 after a colourful opening ceremony. RCB, the 2024 champions, defeated the defending 2025 winners Mumbai Indians Women.

It also became a new WPL record, the highest successful chase after being set a target in the last 10 overs, making it a night to remember for Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women.