They’re gone: Smriti Mandhana believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s early qualification for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 playoffs is based on collective performances as RCB became the first team to secure a place in the top four after registering five consecutive wins in five matches.
Reflecting on the campaign so far, Mandhana said: “It has been a great start to our campaign and we are very happy with our performances so far. We have tried to stay true to our processes and continue to take it one game at a time, but the morale in the group is high and the environment has been excellent.”
She highlighted the importance of the entire team’s contributions during the unbeaten run, adding: “It was hugely important that everyone played their part. Beyond the Man of the Match performances, we saw players step up whenever the situation called for it. In every game we found a way to win, even in moments where we were on the defensive, and the ability to get results even when things didn’t always go smoothly is always a good sign for any team.”
Mandhana also spoke about the culture within the group and the influence it had on the performances of the entire team. “There is a strong belief in the group and the entire team has gelled well. The coaching staff and management deserve great credit for creating an environment where everyone shows the same intensity. Even in training sessions, the players are willing to go the extra mile and that is reflected in the range of performances we have seen, be it from someone with experience like Nadine (de Klerk) or a young player like Gautami (Naik).”
On the composition of the squad and clarity of roles, the 29-year-old said: “When we came out of the auction it was clear that we had given ourselves a lot of options. That was the first step and the way the players came in and executed their roles helped us get results. There is clarity about the roles and that has made a big difference.”
Mandhana, who led RCB to its maiden title in 2024, highlighted the impact of the bowling unit and the depth within the side and said, “When bowlers like Nadine de Klerk (10 wickets), Lauren Bell (9 wickets) and Shreyanka Patil (9 wickets) take wickets, it naturally puts pressure on the opponents. There were several other contributions as well. Sayali has improved, Arundhati has been economical and…” Prema has had important achievements achieved and this balance and depth across the group gives us confidence going forward.”
