Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana was visibly irritated by a cameraperson who came too close while she was practicing ahead of the WPL 2026 opener against Mumbai Indians. Mandhana later scored 18 off 13 balls, but RCB secured a thrilling 3-wicket victory thanks to an explosive innings by Nadine de Klerk.

Mandhana expressed her satisfaction following the victory, stating, "I think for the first match of the WPL, it was a thriller. And RCB are known to play thrillers. Last year, we were on the receiving end of these matches, so happy that we pulled it off. Brilliant from Nadine to finish the match like that. Everyone was pretty positive."

Mandhana highlighted Nadine de Klerk's ability to turn games around, referencing her World Cup performance against India where she scored 84* at Visakhapatnam. 

"We saw that in Visakhapatnam when she played that innings against us, and she pulled it off. When she got dropped, we just hoped she gets 2 sixes and she actually got them," Mandhana added, underlining de Klerk's impact in key moments.

Mandhana praised the team’s positive approach, adding, "Even when things were not going well, everyone was pretty positive. We were having a laugh." The comments reflect RCB's focus on resilience, mental toughness, and maintaining composure under pressure that essential traits in WPL 2026.

RCB will aim to build on their opening win as the tournament progresses. With Mandhana leading the side and Nadine de Klerk delivering match-winning performances, the team is positioned as strong contenders. 

Managing on-field distractions and sustaining team morale will be key to RCB's success in the Women's Premier League 2026.