रॉयल चैलेंजर्स बैंगलोर vs गुजरात जायंट्स, मैच 9 Commentary, Live Updates

Well, well. Things are heating up in the 2026 season of the WPL and after a stutter from Mumbai Indians and also Gujarat Giants, it is Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who take the lead at the top of the table and are the first to 3 wins. Next up, we have the final round of fixtures in Navi Mumbai coming up on a double-header Saturday. On the 17th of January, it will be UP Warriorz taking on Mumbai Indians in the first reverse fixture of the season beginning at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT). After that, it will be Delhi Capitals taking on the high-flying Royal Challengers Bengaluru beginning at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can join us a lot sooner for the build-up as usual. Cheers!

Radha Yadav is the Player Of The Match for her maiden and crucial half century in the WPL. Yadav says that she enjoyed herself out there in the middle and feels that the conversation with Richa Ghosh was crucial as the situation was a difficult one. Lauds Ghosh for instilling confidence in her and backing her abilities. Mentions that she middled the first ball and she felt that she could play a good knock as she has done so in the past for the India A side. Adds that the coaches backed her to go big and ends up also applauding the efforts of Shreyanka Patil with the ball.

Smriti Mandhana, the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, says the partnership between Radha Yadav and Richa Ghosh was special to watch. Reckons that Yadav has played this role for her state, Baroda and also for India A.  Everyone thinks of her as a finisher but she plays well in top of the order. Further says you don't know about the dew much here but they have variety in the bowling unit, they had confidence but couldn't be overconfident with the conditions here. Admits that they dropped a couple of catches and they have a lot of pride and standards in terms of their fielding. Feels there are still a lot of places they could improve.

The Presentation ceremony...

Let's now recap what happened earlier in the game. Ashleigh Gardner won the toss for the first time this season and gladly opted to bowl first, also a first for GG. It quickly turned out to be the right decision as GG had RCB reeling at 43/4. With the likes of Grace Harris and Smriti Mandhana back in the hut, a lot was riding on the shoulders of Richa Ghosh and she didn't disappoint. However, it was Radha Yadav who actually turned the game on its head, as after getting set, she found the fence with regularity and took all the pressure off Ghosh, who was going great guns herself. Yadav ended up scoring a maiden WPL half-century and Nadine De Klerk applied the finishing touches to propel RCB over 180 runs. As for GG, Kashvee Gautam was the chief architect in the Powerplay but Sophie Devine was the one who picked up 3 wickets and was economical as well. Renuka Singh Thakur on the other hand went for plenty and the likes of Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Tanuja Kanwer weren't even used with the ball.

The player of the moment, Shreyanka Patil, is now having a chat with the on-air commentators. Patil says that without Radha Yadav's innings, they wouldn't have that many runs to defend and applauds the partnership between Radha and Richa Ghosh. Also mentions that the total on the board gave them confidence and they always knew that the dew would come into effect but is really happier with her first five-wicket haul. Adds that it has been a roller-coaster of a ride, especially after having missed last season but she's gotten out of it well thanks to her family and the coaches and says that she loves cricket and can't stay home and just watch the game. Further adds that the coaches backed her to keep things simple and bowl those arm-balls and even jokes about Smriti Mandhana mentioning to her that she has to get all the left-handers in the opposition out.

Gujarat Giants skipper, Ashleigh Gardner, says they were happy to bowl first after winning the toss. They thought there was a lot in the wicket, but they fed to Radha Yadav's strength, and things got away from them. Tells that 180 was still gettable, but their top order failed to score. Acknowledges that conditions dictate the game and they have been scoring runs recently but hopes to assess the conditions quickly in Vadodara. Admits that one of the top five needs to bat till the 15th over as they back the local girls to play a big part. Mentions that it is a quick turnaround, they have to be present as the games come thick and fast. There are plenty of positives to take from the last two games.

A second-successive loss for Gujarat Giants but there were plenty of positives for them. They bowled really well in the Powerplay and then, that inexperienced middle order also stepped up when their highly touted top-order failed. Sophie Devine and Ashleigh Gardner will take most of the responsibility and Beth Mooney will once again feel that she got in and then just gave it away. But the way Bharti Fulmali batted along with the likes of Kashvee Gautam and Tanuja Kanwer, will certainly give GG a lot of hope for the future. Let's now hear from the Giants' skipper...

RCB were 43/4 at one point in their innnings but they ended up posting 182 and it was the middle order that needed a big showing and it did. With the ball, Lauren Bell yet again set things up nicely in the Powerplay. However, it was Arundhati Reddy who got the initial breakthrough with some splendid catching off her own bowling and then Shreyanka Patil and Lauren Bell followed it up with wickets of their own. RCB seemed to be well in control of the game when GG were 70/5 but then came the lapses in the field. Multiple catches were dropped and they allowed GG back into the game but Bell came back in and got the big wicket of Bharti Fulmali, after which Patil finished things off in style.

What a win and what a moment for Shreyanka Patil, finishing the game with a maiden five-wicket haul. For the first time in the WPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won all their first 3 matches. This team is time and again showing their grit and their ability to win matches from difficult situations.

OUT! Five-fer for Shreyanka Patil! RCB have done it! Keeps it full and flights it on off, Renuka Singh Thakur swings wildly and balloons it to mid off. Arundhati Reddy runs and to her right and holds onto it. Royal Challengers Bengaluru win by 32 runs.

JUST SHORT! Good effort though! Floats it on a length and around off, Renuka Singh Thakur slog-sweeps it to deep mid-wicket. The fielder runs in and slides but the ball just dips in front of her. Two runs added.

Flatter delivery, around off, turning in, this is punched to Patil.

The Giants are 9 down and now, Renuka Singh Thakur walks out to bat against her former team.

OUT! GONE! Fourth wicket for Patil! A straight arm delivery, full and just outside off. Kanwer makes room to hit it over but slices it to cover. Smriti Mandhana takes the skier.

Pitches it up and bowls it wide of off. Kanwer punches it well but straight to cover.

Fires it full and in line of the stumps. Rajeshwari Gayakwad turns it to mid-wicket. No run is taken.

Very full and drifting on leg, drilled to long on for a single.

FOUR! Really good shot! Too short and too wide, Kanwer picks the leg cutter and slashes it past point for four runs.

JUST SHORT! Pitches it up, outside off, no pace behind it. Kanwer gets on her knee and slices her shot to cover. Smriti Mandhana picks up on a bounce.

FOUR! Cheeky, very cheeky! Reddy serves it full and outside off, Kanwer shapes for the reverse paddle in the last moment and helps it to deep third for a boundary.

Bowls it very full and angling on middle, punched down to long off and Kanwer denies the single.

Slow, length and outside off. Rajeshwari Gayakwad fails to connect it. 6 runs and two wickets off Bell's final over.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad walks out to bat now.

OUT! GONE! Bell picks her third wicket! Nice deceptive leg cutter, fuller and outside off. Singh swipes across the line and slices it to mid off. Arundhati Reddy runs in and to her right to take the catch. Gujarat Giants are running out of batters now and the hope they had a couple of overs ago, seems to have diminished completely. A two-ball duck for Shivani Singh on debut.

On a length and outside off, pace off again. Singh swings and misses.

OUT! TAKEN! A wonderful catch by Grace Harris and that's the end of Bharti Fulmali! Maybe the end of Gujarat Giants as well. No pace at all behind this length delivery, around off, Bharti Fulmali gets underneath and tries to launch but fails to power it much. Grace Harris runs in from long on, dives and takes a brilliant catch.

The debutant, Shivani Singh walks out to bat next.

Wide! Bowls a slower one, almost rolling over the tramline. Bharti Fulmali leaves it alone.

At 85 clicks! A slower length ball on leg, tapped to long on for a single.

FOUR! How well has she filled the gap! A low dipping full toss, dangling on leg, Tanuja Kanwer pulls it to deep square leg, disects the gap in the deep and finds the fence.

Looped up, length delivery on middle, Tanuja Kanwer clips it to square leg and keeps the strike.

Sliding onto the pads, pace on this time, nudged to square leg.

SIX! Wow, off the mark and how! Touch flatter, outside off, a bit of width and Tanuja Kanwer slog-sweeps it over mid-wicket and it goes all the way.

Beauty of a delivery! Nicely tosses it up and bowls it around off, turning slightly away. Tanuja Kanwer gets forward to defend but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Strategic timeout, Finally, RCB manage to hold on to a chance and get the crucial breakthrough. However, the game isn't over by any means. Bharti Fulmali is still out there and she's batting on 39 off just 19 balls. With 57 needed off 28 balls, if Fulmali is out there till the end, then GG will, in all likelihood, pull this off. RCB know this is now about getting a wicket or two more but they need to hold onto the chances. It should be a fascinating end to the game, so let's get back to it. Also, Tanuja Kanwer walks out to bat next.

OUT! TAKEN! Finally, RCB have managed to hold on to a catch. Patil loops it on the up, tad fuller and on middle, Kashvee Gautam uses her feet as she tries to launch it over long on but fails to power. Grace Harris gets the ball to stick between her hands.

FOUR! Good shot! Shreyanka Patil pushes it full and sliding on leg, Kashvee Gautam steps down and swipes across, hits it past square leg and gets it past the fielder in the deep as well.

FOUR! Fractiously short but outside off, Bharti Fulmali hangs back and cuts it hard behind point, picking up another boundary. 50-run stand is up, in 26 balls!

DROPPED! Another one goes down and this time, it is Arundhati Reddy who makes a mess of a straightforward opportunity. Slower delivery from Nadine De Klerk, pitched fuller and on off. Kashvee Gautam hits through the line but lifts it straight down to long off where Arundhati Reddy fumbles the ball and concedes a single.

Back of a length and outside off, hit away down to long off for a single.

That is a fine effort from Radha Yadav but the ball does fall short. Fuller in length and around off, Kashvee Gautam drags the heave flat over mid-wicket. Yadav races in and dives and does well to get her body behind the line of the ball. They get a single.

SIX! Kashvee Gautam gets into the six-hitting act now. On a good length and angled in again, Gautam stays still and slogs it from middle and leg, heaving it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

On a length and angled into the pads, this is nudged away straight to short fine leg.

Oh, some hesitation in the middle from the Giants' batters but no harm is done. Tossed up on off and middle, Gautam sits down and sweeps it aerially towards deep square leg. The fielder nearly overruns the ball and Fulmali is halfway down the pitch when she is sent back. She does manage to make it back in time.

A full toss now, on off stump, Fulmali mistimes it and plays it down to the left of the bowler. Linsey Smith dives but the ball goes through to long off and the batters get a single.

SIX! Swung away over the ropes again by Fulmali. Quicker through the air and sliding it into the pads. Bharti Fulmali clears the front leg and whips it off the pads over deep mid-wicket for a second six in this over.

Slower through the air and angled into the pads. Kashvee Gautam steps out and converts it into a full toss, pushing it down to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Slower one, on a length and on off, Fulmali presses back and punches it through extra cover for a single. The 100 also comes up for the Giants with that.

WIDE. Down the wrong line from Linsey Smith. Full and angled well down the leg side. Good work from Richa Ghosh behind the stumps.

SIX! Right in the wheelhouse and Bharti Fulmali doesn't miss out. Fuller delivery, angled into the leg peg. Fulmali hangs deep in the crease, stays still and slogs it a long way over deep mid-wicket for another biggie. 85 needed now for GG, in 41 balls.

Full and just outside off, lofted flat and down to long on for a single.

Nagging length around off, not all that full, Fulmali has to reach for it and pushes it to mid off.

SIX! Rubbing salt into the wounds. Pitched up fuller and around off, Bharti Fulmali stays back in the crease and whacks it over deep cover for a biggie. Smriti Mandhana is seen kicking the air as she knows that the dropped catch could be very costly.

Length ball on the stumps, worked away through mid-wicket for a single.

DROPPED! Smriti Mandhana has put down an absolute dolly. Another slower ball, on a length and on off. Bharti Fulmali looks to loft it away but mistimes it high towards mid off. Mandhana takes a few steps back but fumbles the ball and concedes a single.

FOUR! Streaky but will do nicely for GG. A slower delivery, full and outside off, dipping on the batter. Fulmali is undone by the lack of pace and gets a cue end of the bat on it. The ball goes past the keeper and rolls away into the fence behind.

Oh, a misfield and the batters get the single. Flighted ball on middle, on a dragged length as well. Fulmali cuts it off the stumps and slices it to short third where Lauren Bell lets it through and concedes a single.

This is flighted up on off, Kashvee Gautam lunges across and sweeps it away just behind square leg for another run.

Tossed up, full on middle, driven to the left of the bowler.

Nice and full, on middle, Fulmali leans on and flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

A bit more tossed up and outside off, driven along the turf and towards deep cover for a single.

This is fired in at the stumps, angles in with the arm as well. Kashvee Gautam blocks it off.

FOUR! That's nicely played. On a good length again but outside off, Bharti Fulmali stays back and cuts it late through backward point and the ball races away to the fence.

Good-length delivery at the stumps, eased on the up and through mid on for a single.

Out goes Georgia Wareham and in walks Kashvee Gautam.

OUT! CAUGHT! You cannot keep Radha Yadav out of the game at the moment. Nadine De Klerk sticks to bowling it back of a length and digs it in over middle. Georgia Wareham gets deep in the crease and looks to heave it over deep mid-wicket but doesn't get all of it and the ball goes straighter rather than squarer. Yadav, who is one of the best catchers in the deep, runs to her left and takes a fine running catch. De Klerk is delighted and why wouldn't she be.

Back of a length and outside off, hit with a horizontal bat and through cover-point for a single.

Hard length over middle and leg, Fulmali tucks it to short mid-wicket. Wareham is halfway down the pitch in a flash and has to quickly scamper back.

Back of a length and following the batter down leg. Wareham shovels it away through backward square leg and picks up a single.

A bit too full, outside off, Bharti Fulmali presses forward and plays it to cover.

Fires it full and in line of the stumps. Wareham strokes it to long off for a single.

Floats it on the up, fuller and on leg, Wareham sweeps it to fine leg for a couple of runs. Plays it really fine.

This is full and outside off, knocked to past cover for a single.

Bharti Fulmali is in! Straighter delivery, full and on off, Wareham punches it to cover and runs across for a quick single. The fielder throws at the batter's end. Richa Ghosh clips the bails off but Bharti Fulmali was well in.

Flatter and attacking the stumps, the arm ball, Wareham slaps it to cover.

Oh, jeez! Flighed well outside off, Bharti Fulmali leans across to defend it but gets an inside edge and the ball rolls just past the stumps. Hands on head moment for Patil.

A wicket falls and in comes the next batter. It will be Bharti Fulmali, who comes out to bat at number 6 for GG.

OUT! LBW! Shreyanka Patil strikes again, or has she? Kanika Ahuja has taken it upstairs. A nice floated off cutter, on the fuller side on off, comes with the arm. Kanika Ahuja prods to tuck it away but misses and it rolls past her blade and hits the back pad. Kanika Ahuja hesitates to take it upstairs. She eventually does. UltraEdge shows no bat. Ball Tracking shows Three Reds. A soft dismissal. Maybe a lapse in concentration.

Strategic timeout. A slight halt in play and the umpires decide to take the time-out as well. It has been a solid bowling display so far from RCB and they have picked up the three big overseas players of the Giants as well. Beth Mooney did play a good knock but with GG 3 down, a lot of pressure is on Georgia Wareham and this inexperienced middle order of the Giants. The next few overs will be crucial, especially for GG and they need to build some sort of a stand.

Oh, hang on! Arundhati Reddy is holding her right calf as she attempts a diving effort. Tossed up, outside off, Wareham crunches it to deep cover. Arundhati, in the deep, runs to her right and dives to stop the ball but as she lands on the ground, grimaces in pain, holding her calf. It doesn't look good. Meanwhile, the batters take three runs.

Pushes it wide outside off, fuller ball. Wareham is stuck in her crease as she taps it back.

Skiddy length, turning in on middle, Wareham wrists it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Hit away! Fractionally short and on middle, extra bounce as Wareham looks to pull but gets a top edge over square leg. The fielder at deep square leg, runs to her right and dives but in vain.

'Crowd catch' by De Klerk! A half volley, around off, Kanika Ahuja chips it back to Nadine De Klerk. It came on a bounce.

Overpitched and angling on middle, drilled to long on for a single.

Digs it short and bowls it outside off. Wareham puts in a lot of effort into her cut shot but finds the fielder at point.

This is full and on middle, tucked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Nicely played! Nadine De Klerk bowls it slightly short with a scrambled seam, outside off. Kanika Ahuja plays with a lot of field awareness, opens the face of the bat and guides it to third man for four.

FOUR! Straight as an arrow! Nadine De Klerk serves it full and just around off, Kanika Ahuja bends her back leg and pumps it past De Klerk's right hand, it races away to the fence. 50 up for Gujarat Giants!

Pushes it full and outside off. Wareham leans and firmly drives but finds cover.

Georgia Wareham is the new batter in at number 5.

OUT! Edged and gone! Delight for RCB as they see the back of Gardner! Into the surface, touch short, outside off and it zips away slightly. Gardner half-heartedly pushes it away and gets a faint outside edge to the keeper, Richa Ghosh, who makes no mistake. Gujarat Giants are in trouble.

Leg bye! A muted appeal for LBW but that was going down! Nagging length delivery, slanting on the pads. Kanika Ahuja wears it on the pads as she looks to flick.

From around the wicket! This is full and around off, Kanika Ahuja flicks it with soft hands to mid-wicket.

Slants it on middle and leg, Gardner whips it to deep square leg for a single.

Bell serves in the channel, shorter and outside off, moving away just. Gardner gets on her toes to push but misses.

Hits the deck hard and nips back in, around off, nudged to square leg for a single. Gujarat Giants end their Powerplay on 44/2!

Touch fuller and attacking the off pole, Gardner nudges it straight to mid-wicket.

This is full and on middle, Kanika Ahuja turns it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Superb effort in the deep! Short in length and outside off, Kanika Ahuja pulls it in the gap to deep mid-wicket. Nadine De Klerk covers a lot of ground, dives to her right and flicks it back. Two runs saved.

Skiddy fuller length, around off, driven to mid off for a quick single.

A good length delivery on middle and leg, Kanika Ahuja tries to fend it away but gets a leading edge past cover for a single.

Big wicket for RCB. Beth Mooney goes. Ashleigh Gardner comes in to bat.

OUT! LBW! That is some review and it certainly seemed to be missing leg in real time but kudos to Shreyanka Patil. This is bowled shorter and on leg stump, turns away a touch as well. Beth Mooney stays back and looks to flick but misses and gets hit high on the pads. There's half an appeal for LBW but it is turned down. However, after a long chat, Smriti Mandhana signals for the review and it seems like the bowler really wanted it. The third umpire is called in and checks UltraEdge first. Nothing on it and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. Mooney has to depart after a brisk start.

Relatively full and around off, Mooney pushes it back to the bowler.

Fuller one at the stumps, Ahuja steps out and hits it down to long on for a single.

BEATEN. This is pushed through a bit quicker and just outside off, Kanika Ahuja rocks back to cut but is beaten by the extra bounce.

Oh, that could have easily gone back onto the stumps. Flighted ball, on a length and on off. Beth Mooney tries to back away and cut but gets an inside edge past the leg stump. The ball rolls down to short fine leg and they get a single.

Fuller delivery around off, swept away through mid-wicket for a single by Ahuja.

On a fuller length again and around off, Beth Mooney shows the full face of the blade and blocks it to covers.

On a fuller length on middle and leg, hit away on the up to long on for a single.

Kanika Ahuja replaces Sophie Devine.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! That is an unbelievable reflex catch from Arundhati Reddy and she gets rid of the dangerous Sophie Devine. Reddy bowls it slower and into the pitch. Devine rocks back and smacks it flat and right back. Reddy just sticks her hands out slightly to her left in the followthrough and the ball sticks. Devine cannot believe it but RCB rejoice.

Chipped but will fall safely. Pitched up on a fuller length and at the stumps, Mooney looks to play the lofted drive but miscues it back over the bowler's head for a single towards mid off.

Back of a length, seaming back into the right-hander. Devine pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Oh, it was there to be hit. Full and on off, swings in late, Sophie Devine looks to swing through the line but gets a big inside edge onto the pads.

FOUR! Hard length from Bell but outside off, Beth Mooney throws her hands at the width and flays the ball up and over point fr another boundary.

FOUR! This is dug in short over leg stump but it isn't short enough. Beth Mooney gets in position early and pulls it just behind square leg for a boundary.

That's a good bumper. This is banged in short and over midle and leg, Sophie Devine gets hurried on the pull and wears it on the helmet. Actually, the ball went off the inside edge then onto the helmet before rolling down to square leg. A single is taken.

Length ball outside off, Devine punches it firmly but straight to point.

On a good length and around off, nudged away behind point for a single.

SIX! That is a glorious shot from Mooney. On a good length and outside off, Beth Mooney walks down the track and holds her shape, loftig it over extra cover for a maximum.

FOUR! Devine puts her hands through it. Tossed up on the stumps, Sophie Devine clears the front leg and heaves it between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary to close out the over.

Fired in, full and outside off, jammed out to mid on for a single.

FOUR! Slightly short on middle, Beth Mooney stays low and then rises up, swatting it flat and over backward square leg for a boundary.

Nicely flighted and outside off, Sophie Devine sits down to slog sweep but miscues it off the inside edge. The ball rolls to backward square leg and they get a single.

On a dragged length and around off, Sophie Devine swats it to the right of the bowler but Smith stops it well.

Smith floats it up quite slow and around off, Devine backs away and slaps it to mid off.

From the other end, Linsey Smith will bowl.

This is banged in short and over middle, Devine hangs back and pulls it to deep square leg for a single. GG get 6 runs off the first over of the chase.

On a fuller length and around off, Sophie Devine leans on and eased it towards mid off.

Swing and a miss. On a good length and outside off, shaping away. Sophie Devine has a waft at it but misses and there's even a slip in place for her right now.

Very full and swinging into the pads, Mooney flicks it down to fine leg for a single.

On a hard length and around the top of off, Beth Mooney blocks it down the deck.

FOUR! A lovely shot from Beth Mooney to get going. Bell bowls it fuller and swings it into the pads, Mooney clips it away neatly and the ball races away between square leg and mid-wicket and runs away to the boundary.