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WPL: How RCB moved away from solo shows to collectivism and extended winning streak

Samira Vishwas | January 17, 2026 10:24 AM CST

Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil starred to help RCB beat GG by 32 runs and maintain winning start in WPL 2026

Before Friday’s contest, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had relied heavily on individual brilliance to get them over the line in two contrasting wins. Nadine de Klerk’s rescue act against Mumbai Indians and Grace Harris’ blazing knock versus UP Warriorz had masked their middle-order fragility. Against Gujarat Giants (GG), however, it was time for that vulnerability to be tested and under pressure, they, along with Shreyanka Patil, delivered to help beat GG by 32 runs to maintain their winning start in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026.

Radha-Richa show

At 43 for 4 in 5.3 overs, RCB were in deep trouble on a night when the top order faltered. The responsibility fell on Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh to rebuild, and the pair responded with a decisive stand. that carried RCB to 182 for 7.

Yadav, who has batted at number five this season, arrived with modest credentials – just 75 runs in her WPL career before Friday. But under pressure, she played the most assured innings of her WPL career, so far. The key to her innings was its cleanness. She punished anything short or over-pitched, carving the ball behind square and making effective use of the cover boundary. Her maiden WPL half-century came off 36 balls, sealed with a pulled six over deep backward square leg off Sophie Devine.

At the other end, Ghosh played the perfect foil. She began cautiously, opening her account with five singles before shifting gears in ninth and 10th over with fours off Ashleigh Gardner and Devine. From there, she grew in confidence, targeting the straight boundaries and midwicket fence and twice clearing them, with ease. Together, the duo swung the momentum in RCB’s favour, putting on 105 runs over 11 overs to transform the innings.

Patil strikes gold

After Ghosh had delivered with the bat, off-spinner Shreyanka Patil’s turn and she produced her best performance of the season, finishing with figures of 5/23 in 3.5 overs. The 23-year-old was introduced as early as the fifth over and troubled the left-handers by bowling from around the wicket, a move that paid rich dividends. Her first major strike was of Beth Mooney, who she trapped lbw for 27. But it was her second wicket that underlined the quality of her spell.

Patil dismissed Kanika Ahuja for 16 with a beautiful delivery in the ninth over, from around the wicket. It drifted to middle and leg, tempting the left-hander into a flick across the line. The ball then straightened just enough to beat the shot and strike Ahuja flush in front of the stumps. The dismissal halted GG’s progress and reinforced RCB’s grip on the game. She returned in the 16th over to dislodge Kashvee Gautam, who was threatening to take the game away from RCB with Bharti Fulmali, to spin the contest in her team’s favour. She claimed the final two wickets of the innings to claim her maiden fifer.

Brief Scores: RCB 182/7 in 20 overs (Yadav 66, Ghosh 44; Devine 3/31) beat GG 150 all out in 18.5 overs (Fulmali 39, Patil 5/23) by 32 runs.