Overview:
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana, the explosive opener and RCB captain, is the player every side wants to contain in the WPL. After a prolific 2025, she will be looking to replicate her form in the franchise season.
RCB Women face UP Warriorz Women in the fifth match of WPL 2026 at Navi Mumbai’s Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on January 12. After a short break, both sides will be eager to hit form early in the tournament.
RCB Women got their season off to a flying start, overcoming defending champions Mumbai Indians in a dramatic last-ball finish on Friday. The Smriti Mandhana-led side, placed third in the points table, will now aim to build on their momentum and secure consecutive victories.
Meg Lanning’s UP Warriorz fell short in a close opener against Gujarat Giants Women, losing by 10 runs on Saturday. While their batting showed flashes of brilliance, the bowlers will need to step up for a win in the next match.
Pitch report
The DY Patil pitch has favoured teams posting high totals, as the surface tends to slow down as the game progresses. With three of four matches won batting first, captains may look to post a total and apply scoreboard pressure.
RCB-W vs UPW-W WPL head-to-head record
The head-to-head slightly favours Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women, who have won three of the six encounters, while UP Warriorz have picked up two victories, with one match ending without a result.
RCB-W vs UPW-W probable top performers
Key batter to watch out for: Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana, the explosive opener and RCB captain, is the player every side wants to contain in the WPL. After a prolific 2025, she will be looking to replicate her form in the franchise season. If Mandhana gets going, it could give RCB the edge for back-to-back wins and a spot atop the standings.
Key Bowler to Watch Out For: Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma enters the WPL 2026 as the leading T20I bowler, aiming to replicate her international prowess for UP Warriorz. While her opening match figures were on the expensive side, her proven skills as an off-spinner make her a key threat. UP Warriorz will rely on her to deliver a match-turning performance as they look for their first win.
RCB-W vs UPW-W: probable XIs
UP Warriorz: Meg Lanning (c), Harleen Deol, Deandra Dottin, Kiran Navgire, Shikha Pandey, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Kranti Gaud
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (c), Nadine de Klerk, Grace Harris, D. Hemalatha, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
RCB-W vs UPW-W Match Prediction
RCB-W have a strong all-round unit, while UPW are still searching for consistency. RCB Women are favourites to win, but considering pitch trends, teams batting first have won three of the last four WPL games. The side batting first is likely to take this match. RCB won their last game while chasing in the season opener.