Can RCB win 2nd title in WPL 2026?:Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy in focus as Bengaluru look to fill Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine’s gaps

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s women’s team created history in 2024 by winning a trophy before the men’s side. Led by Smriti Mandhana, RCB defeated Delhi Capitals in the final to clinch their maiden title. Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine played key roles throughout the tournament and formed the backbone of the championship-winning side. However, neither Perry and Devine will be part of the squad this season. The upcoming campaign will also be special for Mandhana, as it will mark her first tournament after her marriage, adding a new chapter to her leadership journey. Can RCB regain 2024 glory? What position did they finish in 2025? After winning the title in 2024, RCB was expected to reach the playoffs in 2025 as well, but the team only managed to reach fourth place. The team won only 3 matches out of 8. RCB started their season by defeating Gujarat and Delhi, but lost 5 out of their last 6 matches and couldn’t even make it to the playoffs. Also read: Two new captains, doubleheaders, 22 matches at two venues:WPL 2026 all you need to know, meet all five teams and records that could be broken What’s new in 2026? Ellyse Perry, who was retained before the mega auction, will not be able to play the tournament due to personal reasons. Perry is the team’s top run scorer and fourth-highest wicket-taker. RCB picked Sayali Satghare as Perry’s replacement, but it seems difficult for her to make it to the playing XI. In the auction, RCB bought all-rounders like Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Arundhati Reddy, Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav along with England’s fast bowler Lauren Bell. For the opening position, the team included Australia’s Georgia Voll and uncapped Gautami Naik. Smriti Mandhana’s first tournament after calling off marriage with Palash Muchhal After winning the Women’s ODI World Cup on 2 November 2025, India’s vice-captain Mandhana was going to get married. Her wedding was scheduled for 23 November, but it was called off days later. She stayed away from the cricket field for 15 days, then started preparing for the T20I series against Sri Lanka in December. The 5 T20I matches against Sri Lanka started on 21 December. Mandhana couldn’t score a single fifty in the first 3 matches but made a comeback in the fourth T20I, where she scored 80 runs. She also made a record opening partnership of 162 runs with Shafali Verma. Mandhana was rested for the fifth T20I. After the marriage break-up, Mandhana will now be playing in a tournament for the first time. Her captaincy will be focus in WPL 2026. She will face the challenge of filling the void of big players, as well as maintaining her batting form to take the team to the playoffs. Mandhana has only managed 4 fifties in the last three seasons of WPL. Also read: Watch: Virat Kohli mobbed by fans at Vadodara airport:Nitish Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav received warm welcome; 1st ODI scheduled on 11 January How will the absence of Perry and Divine be filled in RCB? Ellyse Perry will be a big miss for RCB in WPL 2026. The franchise did not retain Devine and Renuka. Both had made important contributions in the team’s title-winning campaign. Devine handled the opening with captain Mandhana and scored quick runs. Renuka on the other hand, took wickets with the new ball. Both will now be seen playing for Gujarat Giants in WPL 2026. RCB all-rounders like Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk to replace Perry. Meanwhile, Georgia Voll could open in place of Devine. Lauren Bell could be seen bowling with the new ball. Arundhati Reddy will also be there to support her. Which players to watch out for in 2026? Eyes could be on Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav and Gautami Naik. Vastrakar has had time away from the cricket field due to injury. She last played cricket in October 2024. Since then, she has been rehabilitating at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Radha Yadav was previously part of the Delhi Capitals for 3 seasons, but was not given bowling opportunities on most occasions. With RCB, she will be expected to contribute with both bowling and batting. Gautami played domestic cricket for Nagaland, Baroda and Maharashtra. She finally got a chance in WPL. She was the third-highest run scorer in the 2025 Maharashtra Premier League. RCB may also send her to bat in the top order. RCB’s strengths and weaknesses Strengths: In the middle and lower order, along with Harris, Richa and De Klerk, there are also Vastrakar and Radha. The team’s finishing is very strong; if the start remains strong, then the team can reach big scores. The team’s spin bowling is also strong with the presence of Radha, Shreyanka and De Klerk. Weakness: No strong players to support Mandhana in the top order. Voll and Gautami lack WPL experience; both will be responsible for filling the void left by Divine and Perry. No strong options to support Bell in fast bowling. Also read: WATCH| Rohit Sharma trains in nets before IND-NZ ODI series:Former captain practices with fielding coach T Dilip, to be in action on 11 January RCB’s probable playing XI for 2026 season
Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Gautami Naik, Grace Harris, Richa Ghosh (wk), Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Arundathi Reddy, Lauren Bell. Reserves: Dayalan Hemalatha, Sayali Satghare, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, Pratyusha Kumar.