RCB's Shreyanka Patil Celebrates Team's Fifth Win and Gautami Naik's Maiden Fifty

RCB's Remarkable Achievement in WPL 2026

In a thrilling match on Monday, Shreyanka Patil, an all-rounder for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), expressed her admiration for Gautami Naik, an uncapped Indian batting all-rounder. This victory marked RCB's fifth consecutive win in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026, making them the first team to secure a spot in the playoffs. During the post-match press conference, Shreyanka highlighted Gautami's impressive performance, which included her first fifty in the WPL, contributing significantly to RCB's success.

Gautami Naik's Power-Hitting Skills

Shreyanka noted that Gautami's strong batting was anticipated due to her previous domestic performances. She praised Gautami's ability to hit the ball powerfully, stating, "We all knew that it was coming soon because I had watched it closely in the domestic circuit as well. The way she hits the ball, not many can hit the ball that big in domestic. She has worked really hard, she has put in the extra yards in fielding, batting and bowling also."

RCB's Dominance in the Tournament

RCB showcased their dominance in the WPL 2026 by defeating the Gujarat Giants (GG) by 61 runs in Vadodara. Batting first, RCB scored 178/6 in 20 overs, with Gautami Naik leading the charge with an impressive 73 runs off 55 balls, marking her maiden WPL half-century. Contributions from Smriti Mandhana (26) and Richa Ghosh (27) helped stabilize the innings after an early setback. The GG struggled in response, collapsing to 5/3 within three overs, despite a valiant 54 from Ash Gardner. Ultimately, they finished at 117/8, with Sayali Sathghare shining with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 21 runs.

Team Spirit and Management Support

Shreyanka expressed the team's joy over their five consecutive victories, achieved despite a challenging schedule of three matches in four days. She credited the management and physiotherapists for their efforts in ensuring player recovery, emphasizing the strong camaraderie within the team. "We are very happy that we got five in a row wins now. It wasn't that easy for us over the last four days to play three games and a travel day as well. The team camaraderie is actually really good, and we are having fun right now," Shreyanka remarked.

Playoff Qualification

With this latest victory, RCB has already secured their place in the playoffs, while the Gujarat Giants, now positioned fourth with two wins from five matches, face a challenging path ahead.