WPL 2026 Countdown | Opening combination, young Indian batters key for RCB

For a team packed with match-winners, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s ability to bungle momentum has been legendary across the aisles of the Indian Premier League and the Women’s Premier League. In the 2025 edition of the WPL, RCB’s title defence tapered off quite soon, with a spree of losses derailing early promise.

The side opted to retain a solid batting core in skipper Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and Richa Ghosh. But Perry’s late withdrawal for personal reasons throws a spanner in the works for a batting line-up that often depended on the veteran Australian for stability and spectacle. It was later revealed that the side accounted for the eventuality in the auction, where it amassed quite a formidable squad.

RCB roped in Anya Shrubsole as the bowling coach for the season, and her influence came through in the side’s bowling choices. A packed pace battery featuring Arundhati Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Sayali Sathgare, Nadine de Klerk, and Lauren Bell offers the side plenty of options.

Shreyanka Patil’s retention was more than just a simple show of faith. The offie has been plagued by injuries for the better part of the past two years, and consistency from her franchise had reduced her to tears. Her utility with the bat and wicket-taking ability with the ball, if they click, can make RCB formidable, as it did in 2024. Linsey Smith’s acquisition had Shrubsole written all over it, but how much game time the left-arm spinner will get remains to be seen.

Outside the retained Indian batters, RCB does not have an established Indian bat who can reliably produce runs. The overall inexperience of the Indian batting pool and fitness concerns for the pacers might keep the RCB think-tank up at night.

An interesting early mystery RCB needs to solve is its opening combination. Smriti hand-picked Gautami Naik for her exploits with the bat in the domestic circuit and the Maharashtra Premier League. But there are also Aussie big hitters Georgia Voll and Grace Harris whose proven big-hitting abilities and handy spin offer a certain balance to a line-up. Strong starts with the bat could help RCB make steady surges in the standings.

The squad: Smriti Mandhana (Capt.), Georgia Voll, Arundhati Reddy, D. Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Grace Harris, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Prema Rawat, Radha Yadav, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Prathyoosha Kumar (wk), Richa Ghosh (wk), Lauren Bell, and Linsey Smith.

RCB’s fixtures: At Navi Mumbai: Jan. 9: vs Mumbai Indians; Jan. 12: UP Warriorz; Jan. 16: Gujarat Giants; Jan. 17: Delhi Capitals; At Vadodara: Jan. 19: GG; Jan. 24: DC; Jan. 26: MI; Jan. 29: UPW.

All matches start at 7.30 p.m.