In a breathtaking display of batting at the DY Patil Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana once again stamped her authority on the Women’s
Premier League (WPL) 2026, delivering one of the standout innings in the league’s history on January 17. The southpaw produced a stunning 96-run knock off just 61 balls against Delhi Capitals, propelling her side to a commanding victory.
Mandhana’s knock was filled with class and aggression, 13 boundaries and three sixes, as she scored her highest-ever score in WPL. While she fell agonisingly short by four runs of a century, her effort was anything but ordinary, which also led the 2024 champions to their fourth-consecutive win of the ongoing season.
What made the innings truly historic was the record Mandhana rewrote. Her 96 now stands as the highest individual score by an Indian batter in WPL history, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 95 posted for the Mumbai Indians back in 2024.
Reflecting on her innings, the left-handed batter opened up on how she planned her innings while chasing a tricky target.
“Yeah, it was good. I mean, chasing a total is something which is a lot easier than setting up because as a batter, you don't know what's good enough, especially on wickets like these. So when they got 160-odd and we lost Grace, I knew which bowlers I have to take on and which bowlers I have to respect,” said Mandhana during the post-match presentation.
It was a record-breaking night for Smriti, as her 142-run stand with Georgia Voll is now the third-highest partnership in WPL’s history. The Maharashtra cricketer also became the batter involved in the most hundred-plus run partnerships, along with Nat Sciver-Brunt, Shafali Verma, and Meg Lanning, all involved in four such occasions.
RCB’s dream run continues
Meanwhile, RCB Women have been unstoppable in the ongoing WPL 2026, winning all four of their opening matches. They are currently sitting at the top of the points table with 8 points in four matches. The 2024 Champions will next face the Gujarat Giants Women on Monday, January 19, as the tournament moves into its second leg at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara.
