Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women face UP Warriorz Women in the 5th match of Women’s Premier League 2026 match at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, January 12. The game begins at 7:30 PM IST, with both teams eager to push early in the season.
Women’s Premier League action continues with contrasting moods in the two camps. RCB Women come in confident after a thrilling last-ball win in their opener, while UP Warriorz are still searching for their first points after a narrow defeat.
The head-to-head record adds spice to the contest. RCB Women and UP Warriorz have met six times in the WPL so far, with both teams winning three matches each. That balance suggests another tight contest could be on the cards.
The match will be played at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, a ground known for good batting conditions. The pitch usually offers even bounce and value for shots, and scores above 170 are often competitive here.
For RCB Women, skipper Smriti Mandhana remains the key batter. Her aggressive starts can set the tone, though UP Warriorz have managed to keep her quiet in past meetings. How she handles the new ball will be crucial.
UP Warriorz will bank heavily on Phoebe Litchfield, who looked in great touch in the opening game. Her 78 off just 40 balls showed her ability to take on any bowling attack, especially during a chase.
With the ball, UP Warriorz will look to Deepti Sharma for inspiration. The experienced off-spinner had a quiet first match, but her control in the middle overs could change the game if she finds rhythm.
RCB Women will draw confidence from Nadine de Klerk, who delivered a match-winning all-round show in the opener. Her figures of 4 for 26 and an unbeaten 63 underline her value in pressure moments.
UP Warriorz, however, need to fix their bowling issues. Apart from Sophie Ecclestone, most bowlers went for runs in the first game, something they cannot afford again on a batting-friendly pitch.
On form and balance, RCB Women start as slight favourites. Still, UP Warriorz have enough batting firepower to spring a surprise in what promises to be a high-scoring and entertaining contest.
Match Details
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women vs UP Warriorz Women |
| Tournament | Women’s Premier League, 2026 |
| Date & Time | Monday, 12 January 2026, 7:30 PM (IST) |
| Venue | Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai |
| Broadcast & Live Stream | Star Sports Network & JioHotstar app/website |
Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai – Pitch Report
The pitch at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy usually offers a fair contest between bat and ball. Batters enjoy the early bounce, while spinners get some help later. With dew expected in night games, teams often prefer chasing here.
RCB-W vs UP-W Head to Head Records ahead of 5th Match of WPL 2026
| Matches Played | 6 |
| Won by Mumbai Indians | 3 |
| Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 3 |
| No Result | 0 |
RCB-W vs UP-W Current Form (Last 5 Matches)
| Team | Last Five Matches | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCB-W | W | W | L | L | L |
| UP-W | L | W | L | L | L |
RCB-W vs UP-W Predicted Playing XIs
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Georgia Voll/Linsey Smith, D Hemalatha, Grace Harris, Richa Ghosh, Nadine de Klerk, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Prema Rawat, Lauren Bell.
UP Warriorz Women
Kiran Navgire, Meg Lanning (Captain), Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Deandra Dottin, Shweta Sehrawat (Wicketkeeper), Shikha Pandey, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Kranti Gaud.
RCB-W vs UP-W Probable Top Performers
Phoebe Litchfield
The Australian batter is in exceptional form, having smashed a brilliant 78 runs off just 40 balls in UPW’s opening match, showcasing her ability to change the game with aggressive strokeplay.
Nadine de Klerk
An all-round game-changer, de Klerk secured RCB’s last victory with a match-winning all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 63 runs and taking 4 wickets against Mumbai Indians.
Smriti Mandhana
The explosive RCB skipper is a constant threat at the top of the order. After a stellar 2025 season where she broke multiple records, she will be looking to replicate that form and provide a strong start for her team.
Deepti Sharma
Currently the top-ranked T20I bowler in the world, the Indian all-rounder is capable of match-turning performances with her smart off-spin and reliable batting. UPW will rely on her to deliver in this crucial clash.
Meg Lanning
The experienced UPW captain and former Australian skipper brings immense experience and batting prowess to the top order. Despite a scratchy start in the first game, she is a proven big-match performer who can anchor the innings and score heavily.
RCB-W vs UP-W Toss Prediction
The toss could play a role due to possible evening dew. Chasing may be tempting, although teams batting first have enjoyed success in recent WPL matches at this venue.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women vs UP Warriorz Women Match Prediction – Who Will Win?
Given their current momentum and all-round depth, RCB-W are considered slight favorites, but UPW’s batting power means an upset is a strong possibility in what is expected to be a high-scoring thriller.
