'6, 4 ,6, 4': Nadine de Klerk Stuns Defending Champions in WPL 2026 Opener

The opening match of the WPL 2026 season went down as a thriller. Mumbai Indians women and Royal Challengers Women, two of the most successful teams in the league, played out a perfect game of cricket at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

With 155 to win, RCB Women were on the verge of a defeat until the all-rounder Nadine de Klerk came to their rescue. The South African showed her finishing skills to stun the defending champions at the iconic stadium as the Women's Premier League got off to a perfect start.

Nadine de Klerk Stuns MI in WPL 2026 Opener

The MI-W vs RCB-W WPL match went down to the wire. RCB needed an improbable 18 runs to win off the final over of the game. With the experience of Nat Sciver-Brunt, MI Women would have fancied their chances here. The first two balls turned out to be dots in the last over. However, De Klerk had other ideas as she showed why she is among the best women cricketers currently.

She hit two sixes and two fours off the remaining balls to take her side home in a thrilling game of cricket. Eight runs were required off the last two deliveries but De Klerk kept her calm and smashed a six off the penultimate ball. With two runs needed off the last ball, she hit a four down the ground to win the match for her team.

Although there was huge pressure on the all-rounder, she took it upon herself to finish off the game and succeeded as well. With this knock, she established her credentials as one of the best all-rounders in WPL. Nadine de Klerk RCB presence made a massive difference for her team as she turned out to be the match-winner on the day.

Earlier, Royal Challengers Bengaluru women started off on a brighter note as they put up a strong partnership courtesy Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris. However, Mandhana's wicket started a flurry as MI came back strongly. Soon. they were reduced to 65-5 and it seemed like Mumbai would win the match.

But Nadine de Klerk put up a useful partnership with Arundhati Reddy for the sixth wicket. While Reddy was dismissed, De Klerk ensured to finish off the game with the help of Prema Rawat's useful cameo of 8 runs from 4 balls. Nadine de Klerk WPL knock in the opening match will be hard to forget for the RCB fans.

MI Women Score 154-6

During the first innings of the MI vs RCB WPL match, Mumbai Indians women scored 154-6, thanks to some useful knocks in the middle and lower order. Youngster G Kamalini gave her team a good start but the others failed to trouble the scorers.

In the end, Sajeevan Sajaana smashed a quickfire 45 off just 25 balls after being dropped several times. Australian all-rounder Nicola Carey also played well for her 40 off 29 balls. De Klerk shined with the ball too as she picked 4-26 in four overs. MI Women will next play Delhi Capitals women on the second day of WPL 2026.