Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have secured their spot in the WPL 2026 playoffs after a dominant 61-run victory over the Gujarat Giants (GG). The win, which took place at the BCA Stadium Kotambi in Vadodara on January 19, 2026, marks their fifth consecutive win in the tournament.
RCB's innings saw early setbacks, with Renuka Singh striking in the second over and Kashvee Gautam following up with another key wicket. Smriti Mandhana (26 off 21) and Gautami Naik (69 off 53) stabilized the innings with a 50-run partnership. Naik then accelerated the scoring alongside Richa Ghosh (27 off 20). Radha Yadav (2 off 2) and Nadine de Klerk (2 off 2) added some late runs, boosting the total to 178/6.
In reply, GG struggled from the start, finding themselves at 4/2 in just 2 overs after Sayali Satghare dismissed Beth Mooney early. Ashleigh Gardner led a fightback, scoring 54 off 43 balls, but wickets fell at regular intervals. Shreyanka Patil and Sayali Satghare maintained the pressure, and GG was eventually bowled out for 117. Satghare finished with impressive figures of 3/21.
This victory not only secured RCB's playoff berth but also highlighted their dominant form in the tournament. They have showcased strength across all departments, establishing themselves as serious title contenders.
The updated WPL 2026 points table shows RCB at the top with 10 points from 5 wins, a considerable distance ahead of their competitors. Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants are all tied with 4 points each, making the race for the remaining playoff slots wide open.
Several factors contributed to RCB's success in this match. GG's bowlers, despite efforts from Gardner and Devine, struggled to contain the flow of runs in the latter stages of RCB's innings. GG also suffered a nightmare start to their chase, with Sayali Satghare rocking them with a double strike.
Looking ahead, RCB has upcoming matches against Delhi Capitals on January 24 and Mumbai Indians on January 26, both in Vadodara. Meanwhile, Gujarat Giants will face UP Warriorz on January 22 and Delhi Capitals on January 27, also in Vadodara.
