In a nail-biting opener of the Women’s Premier League 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana credited all-rounder Nadine de Klerk for their exhilarating three-wicket victory against the defending champions, Mumbai Indians (MI). De Klerk delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a brilliant 63 runs off 44 balls, sealing the win with a thrilling finish. Earlier, her impressive bowling figures of 4-26 played a crucial role in limiting MI to a modest score of 154-6. “It was an edge-of-the-seat match, and RCB is known for such thrilling encounters. Nadine was amazing in leading us to this victory. The team’s spirit remained high even in tough situations, and Nadine truly did the heavy lifting for us with both bat and ball,” Mandhana expressed. De Klerk reflected on her performance, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities. “When it’s your day, you have to make it count. I’m just pleased we secured the win,” she stated. “It’s about trusting your skills and executing well. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t. On these pitches, you really have to capitalize on the chances you get,” the South African added.
