Smriti Mandhana fell heartbreakingly short of a maiden WPL century, but her commanding 96 set up Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s (RCB) emphatic eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, as RCB made it four wins in as many matches to remain unbeaten at the top of the WPL 2026 points table at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. With action now shifting to Vadodara and all teams eyeing to finish in the top three, RCB sit comfortably at the top of the points table with a good lead over their competitors.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat first win against MI was a bit scratchy for RCB, as they found a way of almost losing that game, if it wasn\u2019t for Nadine de Klerk. But since then, they\u2019ve been a class above every other team in this tournament. To start the Navi Mumbai leg unbeaten and then head to Vadodara puts Smriti Mandhana and Co in a perfect position. They\u2019ve basically qualified, and you couldn\u2019t ask for a better start to the tournament, especially with a new group. They lost Ellyse Perry after she pulled out, obviously, so Smriti Mandhana must be thinking this is the easiest job in the world,\u201d Cross said of RCB's dream start to the WPL.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking on Mandhana's match-winning 96-run knock against Delhi Capitals in the recently concluded game, Cross said, \u201cI\u2019ve always said a strong RCB is when Smriti is scoring runs, and she\u2019s had a good start to the tournament. I\u2019m so disappointed she couldn\u2019t get that hundred in this match and finally put to bed that jinx around the first hundred. But when it does come, it\u2019s going to be special. She played her best innings today. She looked comfortable at the crease; even after they lost Grace Harris quite early, it didn\u2019t faze her. She just went about her business and put on a masterclass. She was outstanding.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThat first win against MI was a bit scratchy for RCB, as they found a way of almost losing that game, if it wasn\u2019t for Nadine de Klerk. But since then, they\u2019ve been a class above every other team in this tournament. To start the Navi Mumbai leg unbeaten and then head to Vadodara puts Smriti Mandhana and Co in a perfect position. They\u2019ve basically qualified, and you couldn\u2019t ask for a better start to the tournament, especially with a new group. They lost Ellyse Perry after she pulled out, obviously, so Smriti Mandhana must be thinking this is the easiest job in the world,\u201d Cross said of RCB's dream start to the WPL.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
RCB will next face Gujarat Giants at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara in the first match of the second leg of the tournament at the venue.<\/p>\r\n\r\n