RCB, Gujarat Giants fight for WPL 2026 top spot:Smriti Mandhana’s team to face Ashleigh Gardner and co first time this season today

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Gujarat Giants (GG) will face each other in the ninth match of WPL 2026 (Women’s Premier League) on 16 January. The match will be played at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy or DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and will start at 7:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time). This will be the first meeting of these two teams this season and the match will be for the top spot. RCB, the only unbeaten team this season, have won both their matches and sit at the top of the points table. Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, have had two victories and one defeat and are third on the points table. While RCB can consolidate their top spot, Gujarat Giants have the opportunity to move to the summit with a victory. Both teams level in head-to-head stats RCB and GG have had quite a balanced rivalry so far in the WPL. The two teams have faced each other six times. RCB have won three of these matches while Gujarat Giants have emerged victorious in the remaining encounters. Grace Harris is RCB’s top batter RCB have emerged as one of the strongest forces this season, despite the absence of star all-rounder Ellyse Perry. With victories over defending champions Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz, Smriti Mandhana and co already look like a force to be reckoned with. Grace Harris has been RCB’s best batter so far in WPL 2026. The Australian opened the innings with Mandhana and against UP Warriorz, she was at her devastating best, smashing 85 runs off just 40 deliveries, helping her team chase down a 144-run target in just 12.5 overs. Harris has scored 110 runs in 2 matches and has had a strike rate of 211.53. In the bowling department, Lauren Bell and Nadine de Klerk have provided balance to the team. All-rounder de Klerk has taken six wickets in two matches this season with her best figures being 4/26 in the WPL 2026 opener against the Mumbai Indians. Also read: UP Warriorz secure maiden WPL 2026 victory against Mumbai Indians: Harleen Deol’s quickfire 64 led UPW’s 7-wicket win, marking comeback after ‘retiring out’ Gujarat Giants’ best all-rounder- Sophie Devine
Gujarat Giants looks completely transformed this season. The team, which finished last in the previous season, started 2026 with two consecutive 200+ scores. Although they recently suffered a defeat against the Mumbai Indians, captain Ashleigh Gardner’s aggressive strategy has made the team the fastest-scoring unit in the league. And Sophie Devine is one of the reasons for the Gujarat Giants’ success this season. The New Zealand all-rounder has been both the team’s best batter and bowler so far. She has had 141 runs to her name and scalped five wickets. Gujarat Giants, however, have lost Yastika Bhatia for the tournament due to injury, while youngster Anushka Sharma is also not playing due to fitness reasons. Devine and Georgia Wareham have been useful additions to the Gujarat Giants squad this season and will look to be at their best against their former team, RCB. Also read: Delhi Capitals beat UP Warriorz by 7 wickets: Jemimah’s maiden win as skipper; Shafali Verma puts on all-round show Dr DY Patil Sports Academy Pitch Report
The pitch at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is generally considered batting-friendly. With the new ball, good bounce and carry are observed here, allowing batsmen to play their shots freely. Spin bowlers do not get much help on this pitch, while fast bowlers can have some impact in the initial overs. In night matches, dew plays a crucial role in changing the course of the game. Additionally, short boundaries and a fast outfield make scoring runs even easier. Navi Mumbai Weather Report
On Friday, the temperature at DY Patil Stadium is expected to be a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 19 degrees Celsius. The wind will blow at a speed of 13 km per hour. Possible Playing-XI of Both Teams
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Gautami Naik, Linsey Smith, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav and Lauren Bell. Gujarat Giants (GG): Beth Mooney (wicketkeeper), Sophie Devine, Bharti Fulmali, Ashleigh Gardner (captain), Ayushi Soni, Kanika Ahuja, Georgia Wareham, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Singh Thakur and Rajeshwari Gayakwad.