WPL 2026: Table-Toppers RCB Choose to Bowl as Injury-Hit MI Bring in Amelia Kerr for Crucial Clash

The Women's Premier League 2026 continues to deliver high-stakes drama as table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru face a desperate Mumbai Indians side in Vadodara. With playoff positions on the line, this clash could prove decisive for both franchises' tournament aspirations.

Toss Decision: Mandhana Opts to Chase

RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to bowl first, continuing the prevailing trend throughout WPL 2026. The decision was influenced by expected dew conditions in Vadodara, with Mandhana noting that the team wanted to understand their par score going forward.

This tactical approach has served RCB well throughout the tournament, as they currently sit atop the points table with just one loss to their name.

MI's Injury Woes Continue: Kerr Replaces Carey

Mumbai Indians were forced into a change, bringing in New Zealand star Amelia Kerr to replace the injured Nicola Carey. Until this match, Carey had been the only MI overseas player to feature in all of the franchise's games this season.

Carey picked up a niggle while batting in MI's previous encounter against Delhi Capitals and had been under doubt after bowling only one over in that match. Her absence adds to MI's mounting injury concerns.

MI's Injury Timeline This Season

The five-time champions have been plagued by fitness issues throughout WPL 2026:

• Hayley Matthews missed the opening games with a shoulder niggle
• Nat Sciver-Brunt was sidelined for one match due to illness
• S Sajana gave the team an injury scare while diving at the boundary in the previous game
• Nicola Carey now joins the casualty list with her batting-related niggle

Contrasting Fortunes: League Standings

The two teams enter this fixture in vastly different positions. RCB have been the standout performers of WPL 2026, suffering just one defeat throughout the league stage. Their consistent performances have already secured their passage to the knockouts.

MI, in stark contrast, arrive on the back of three consecutive losses and currently sit second from bottom. However, among the four teams still in contention for the remaining two playoff spots, Mumbai Indians possess the only positive net run rate—a crucial advantage that could prove decisive.

What's at Stake for Mumbai Indians

While MI won't be mathematically eliminated even with a loss tonight, the implications of defeat would be severe. A big loss to RCB would significantly dent their net run rate, leaving them heavily reliant on other results going their way.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will need her experienced core to deliver under pressure, with the likes of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews needing to step up alongside the newly-included Amelia Kerr.

Team Line-ups

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Unchanged)

1. Grace Harris
2. Smriti Mandhana (c)
3. Georgia Voll
4. Gautami Naik
5. Richa Ghosh (wk)
6. Radha Yadav
7. Nadine de Klerk
8. Sayali Satghare
9. Arundhati Reddy
10. Shreyanka Patil
11. Lauren Bell

Mumbai Indians

1. S Sajana
2. Hayley Matthews
3. Nat Sciver-Brunt
4. Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
5. Amelia Kerr
6. Amanjot Kaur
7. Sanskriti Gupta
8. Poonam Khemnar
9. Rahila Firdous (wk)
10. Shabnim Ismail
11. Vaishnavi Sharma

Looking Ahead

This encounter represents a pivotal moment in WPL 2026. For RCB, victory would cement their position as tournament favorites and book a place in the final. For MI, it's an opportunity to reignite their campaign despite the mounting challenges.

The inclusion of Amelia Kerr adds an exciting dimension to MI's batting lineup, and her leg-spin could prove valuable in Vadodara conditions. Whether she can make an immediate impact in such a high-pressure situation remains to be seen.

With dew expected to play a significant role, the team batting second will have conditions in their favor—making Mandhana's decision a calculated gamble that could pay rich dividends.