Five matches into their WPL 2026 journey, Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already clinched what most teams spend the entire league stage striving for a spot in the playoffs. They’ve done it with a confidence that hints this is just the beginning.

As they kicked off the Vadodara leg, the table-toppers maintained the commanding presence that characterized their Navi Mumbai run, delivering yet another all-around performance to make it five wins out of five this season and stretch their unbeaten streak to six overall, a feat unmatched in the league’s brief history. 

Gujarat Giants had every reason to think they could challenge RCB, especially while chasing 178 on a pitch that’s still revealing its quirks. After all, they came into the match boasting the best PowerPlay run-rate of WPL 2026. However, what they faced was a bowling attack that has set the benchmark across every PowerPlay statistic. 

Sayali Satghare set the tone right from the start, taking out Beth Mooney and forcing Sophie Devine to hit to deep mid-wicket in her first over. When Lauren Bell dismissed Kanika Ahuja, the Giants found themselves in a tough spot at 5 for 3 and limped to 29 for 3 by the end of the PowerPlay. Ash Gardner provided some resistance with a 43-ball 54, but the early setbacks proved crucial as Gujarat finished at 117 for 8. 

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Earlier, Gardner’s choice to field seemed justified when RCB stumbled to 9 for 2 within the first two overs. Renuka Singh and Kashvee Gautam struck early, leaving the leaders in a precarious position. Gautami Naik then stepped up with a maturity beyond her years, stabilizing the innings alongside Smriti Mandhana during a cautious PowerPlay. 

Mandhana fell LBW to Gardner marking the 10th time the Giants’ skipper has dismissed her leaving RCB still in search of momentum.

Naik found it alongside Richa Ghosh in a counterattacking partnership that turned the game around. Naik reached her fifty off 42 balls and went on to score an impressive 73, the highest by an uncapped Indian this season. 

The late surge from Ghosh, Radha Yadav, and Shreyanka Patil, along with 21 extras from Gujarat, propelled RCB to a total of 178 for 6 a score that turned out to be well out of reach.