Match 18 of the Women’s Premier League 2026 brings together two teams at opposite ends of the points table. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W) will face UP Warriorz Women (UPW-W) in a crucial league-stage clash at BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on Thursday evening.
RCB-W started the season on fire with five consecutive wins and have already qualified for the playoffs. However, back-to-back defeats have slightly dented their momentum, and they will now look to bounce back to secure a direct spot in the final.
UPW-W, on the other hand, are in a do-or-die situation. The injury to their leading run-scorer Phoebe Litchfield has hurt their campaign badly. Amy Jones has come in as a replacement, but UPW-W need a complete team effort to stay alive in the tournament.
Match Preview
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W)
RCB-W have relied heavily on their bowling unit this season. While their batting has been inconsistent, performances from Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana, and Grace Harris at different stages have helped them stay ahead.
Their spin department has done well on slow surfaces, and conditions in Vadodara suit their bowling attack.
Key Players:
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil
UP Warriorz Women (UPW-W)
UPW-W’s campaign took a big hit after Phoebe Litchfield was ruled out. They are now heavily dependent on Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma to deliver. Sophie Ecclestone remains their biggest weapon with the ball.
UPW-W must win this game to stay in contention for the playoffs.
Key Players:
Meg Lanning, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Chloe Tryon
RCB-W vs UPW-W Match Details
| Match Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Women’s Premier League 2026 |
| Match | RCB Women vs UP Warriorz Women, Match 18 |
| Date | Thursday, 29 January 2026 |
| Time | 07:30 PM IST |
| Venue | BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara |
Head-to-Head Record
| Team | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| RCB-W | 4 |
| UPW-W | 3 |
| No Result | 0 |
Recent Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| RCB-W | W, W, W, L, L |
| UPW-W | L, L, W, W, L |
Weather & Pitch Report – Vadodara
Weather Update
- Temperature: 23–25°C
- Humidity: 45–50%
- Rain: Slight chance (10%)
Pitch Report
- Batting-friendly surface
- Spinners get assistance as match progresses
- Chasing teams have enjoyed success
- Expected first-innings score: 160+
Ground Stats – BCA Stadium (T20s)
| Record | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 13 |
| Bat First Wins | 5 |
| Bat Second Wins | 8 |
| Tie / No Result | 0 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 160–170 |
| Highest Score | 202/4 |
| Lowest Score | 117/8 |
Predicted Playing XI
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
- Grace Harris
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- Georgia Voll
- Gautami Naik
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Nadine de Klerk
- Radha Yadav
- Shreyanka Patil
- Arundhati Reddy
- Sayali Satghare
- Lauren Bell
UP Warriorz Women
- Meg Lanning (c)
- Kiran Navgire
- Amy Jones
- Harleen Deol
- Chloe Tryon
- Deepti Sharma
- Shweta Sehrawat (wk)
- Asha Sobhana Joy
- Sophie Ecclestone
- Kranti Gaud
- Shikha Pandey
Dream11 Fantasy Tips
Small League (Safe Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Nadine de Klerk
- Deepti Sharma
- Chloe Tryon
- Lauren Bell
Grand League (High-Risk Picks)
Captain / Vice-Captain Options
- Meg Lanning
- Smriti Mandhana
- Grace Harris
- Sophie Ecclestone
Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
UPW-W are missing their most consistent batter this season, and that has exposed their fragile batting lineup. They are now overly dependent on Meg Lanning at the top, while RCB-W have a stronger bowling attack and better balance overall.
Although RCB-W’s batting has been inconsistent, their bowlers give them an edge in these conditions.
Predicted Winner: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB-W)
Injury Update
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| UP Warriorz Women | Phoebe Litchfield – ruled out |
| RCB Women | No injury updates |
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