Gujarat Giants Women vs RCB Women Prediction & Match Preview – WPL 2026

Gujarat Giants Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, two of the strongest sides so far in the Women’s Premier League 2026, play each other at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Friday 16 January.

The Giants have won two of three games and are third in the table. Sophie Devine has scored 141 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 213, and skipper Ashleigh Gardner has made 134. Beth Mooney and Georgia Wareham add depth, and Bharti Fulmali has chipped in with useful cameos. In the attack, Devine has five wickets, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Renuka Singh Thakur have six between them, and Wareham and Kashvee Gautam have four more.

RCB Women won their first two matches to go top, the latest by nine wickets after chasing a modest target in only 12.1 overs. Grace Harris has been explosive with 110 runs in two games at a strike rate of 211, while Smriti Mandhana has 65 runs at 145. Nadine de Klerk, with six wickets at an economy of 6.75, is the standout bowler, supported by Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell and Arundhati Reddy, and Richa Ghosh offers power at the end. Both teams have strong all-round options, so a competitive game, possibly decided in the final over, is likely.

Pitch report

The surface at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy is batting-friendly with consistent bounce, good for stroke play in limited-overs cricket. Seamers can get early help with the new ball, especially under lights, but the pitch flattens and partnerships become easier. Spin matters in the middle overs. Totals of roughly 160–170 are typical, and chasing sides have done reasonably well under lights.

Weather

On the evening of 16 January, around 7:30 pm local time, conditions are expected to be dry and clear at 25–26 °C with light winds and no chance of rain.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 150–160
• 2nd innings: 145–155

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