WPL 2026’s opening encounter lived up to all the hype — and worked as a reminder that when Nadine de Klerk is out in the middle, no equation is impossible.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru opened their Women’s Premier League Season 4 campaign with a dramatic last-ball, three-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians on Friday, powered by a sensational all-round performance from de Klerk.
18 needed off last 6 balls, Nat Sciver-Brunt bowling. Pressure? WHAT PRESSURE!!!!!! 🥶
Nadine de Klerk lit up the opening night of #TATAWPL 2026 & how! 🔥
Relive the opening day thriller 👉 https://t.co/Q2ZlYQUV2Q pic.twitter.com/WFWBeMN4Lg
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 9, 2026
RCB won the toss and chose to field, and de Klerk immediately made her presence
felt with the ball. Mumbai were rocked early and slipped to 67/4 before Nicola Carey and Sajeevan Sajana steadied the innings with a vital 82-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Sloppy RCB fielding aided the recovery, but de Klerk returned at the death to remove both batters in the final over, finishing with outstanding figures of 4/26 as MI were held to 154/6.
The chase began in blistering fashion. Smriti Mandhana and Laura Harris tore into the MI attack, smashing 40 runs in the first three overs to put RCB firmly in control.
But the game turned abruptly. Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail triggered a dramatic collapse, ripping through the middle order as RCB slumped from cruising to 65/5.
When Arundhati fell just after the 16th-over timeout, the task looked beyond reach. RCB needed 29 from 12 balls, then 18 from the final over. The champions appeared set to escape.
De Klerk had other ideas.
Refusing to panic, the South African took control of the chase, farming the strike and punishing anything loose.
Her unbeaten 63 off 44 balls — laced with seven boundaries and two sixes — dragged RCB back from the brink before she sealed the win off the very last delivery, taking RCB to 157/7.
What a way to kick off the new season of the WPL, eh?
