RCB-W vs MI-W Prediction & Match Preview – WPL 2026, 16th Match

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women have been the team to beat this season, winning five of six matches to lead the table. A win here would give them a direct place in the final. Smriti Mandhana has led from the front with 230 runs in six games at a strike rate of 135, and Grace Harris has added firepower at the top with 138 runs at 172.50, easing the pressure on the middle order. Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk and Richa Ghosh provide late hitting, and Radha Yadav made a vital 66 off 47 against Gujarat Giants.

In the bowling department, Nadine de Klerk has taken 10 wickets at 7.05 an over, Lauren Bell and Shreyanka Patil have 18 between them, and Sayali Satghare has eight wickets in three matches at an economy of 6.60.

Mumbai Indians Women won two of their first three games but then lost three straight and now sit third. With two league games left they are still in the hunt for the playoffs, but another loss would let the chasing pack close in. Harmanpreet Kaur has scored 240 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 144 with two fifties, Nat Sciver-Brunt has 219 from five innings and Nicola Carey 149. Amelia Kerr leads the attack with 10 wickets in five matches, backed by Sciver-Brunt and Carey, who share 14, and Shabnim Ismail has been consistently economical in the middle overs.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

The BCA Stadium surface usually gives a fair contest between bat and ball. Seamers can find early movement and bounce, so batters need to be careful at the start. The pitch then settles and becomes better for strokeplay and partnerships, and later on it can slow down, offering some help to controlled spin.

Weather

The evening of 26 January in Vadodara is expected to be pleasant and dry, with clear or mostly clear skies, light winds and very little chance of rain.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 155–175
• 2nd innings: 150–170

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