WPL Season 4 Kicks Off: RCB's Smriti Mandhana Chooses to Bowl First Against MI

The Women’s Premier League Season 4 has officially begun with a thrilling match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians. RCB's captain, Smriti Mandhana, won the toss and opted to bowl first, considering the dew factor. The Mumbai Indians will be missing key player Hayley Matthews due to illness. This article covers the team lineups and key moments from the match, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 9, 2026, 19:38 IST

WPL Season 4 Begins with RCB vs MI Clash

Navi Mumbai: In the inaugural match of the Women’s Premier League Season 4, Smriti Mandhana, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, won the toss and decided to bowl first against the reigning champions, Mumbai Indians, on Friday.

RCB's lineup features four international players: Grace Harris, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, and Nadine de Klerk.

Mandhana explained that her choice to bowl first was influenced by the potential dew conditions later in the match.

The Mumbai Indians will be without Hayley Matthews for this opening game due to illness, as confirmed by their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur.

Team Lineups:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (captain), Grace Harris, D Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh, Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.

Mumbai Indians: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), G Kamalini, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti, S Sajana, Saika Ishaque.