Why Grace Harris is Opening Today in MI vs RCB WPL 2026 Match?

The Women's Premier League 2026 kicked off with the first match being played between the defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The MI-W vs RCB-W WPL 2026 match is taking place at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, on Friday, January 09.

MI were asked to bat first after losing the toss and scored 154 runs in the first innings. However, when Royal Challengers Women came to chase in the second innings, fans were shocked to see Smriti Mandhana opening partner, who was Grace Harris.

Why Grace Harris is Opening Today in MI vs RCB WPL 2026 Match?

Australia's star cricketer Grace Harris opened the innings for RCB Women along with the skipper, Smriti Mandhana. Interestingly, Harris is known for her finishing skills as she has often produced some match-finishing performances for both Australia and in the WPL as well in the past.

The reason behind sending Harris as an opener in the MI-W vs RCB-W WPL match was clear. RCB wanted Harris to play her natural game and smash boundaries right from the start. Harris started the innings with a four off Nat Sciver-Brunt and made her intentions clear. However, she was later dismissed on 25 runs, which she scored off just 12 balls, including four fours and a six. She went back to the pavilion in the fifth over after being dismissed by Nat Sciver-Brunt, the best all-rounder in WPL so far.

Grace Harris Career Stats

Australia's star cricketer Grace Harris has appeared in 54 WT20Is and has scored 577 runs so far at an impressive strike rate of 155.52 while taking nine wickets with the ball as well. As we have mentioned above, Harris has played as a finisher in almost every match, which is why she has a strike rate of over 150.

Harris' Women's Premier League stats are even more impressive. In the 22 WPL matches in the past three seasons so far, Harris has scored 581 runs at an average of 32.28 and with a strike rate of 140.34, which speaks volumes of her talent and skills. And not just that, when it comes to bowling, Harris has taken 13 wickets with the best figures of 4/15.