Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally broke through in the Women’s Premier League, grabbing their first-ever trophy in 2024. This was a big moment—not just for the women’s team, but for the whole RCB franchise, which had never won a title in either men’s or women’s cricket before. Smriti Mandhana, with her calm style and left-handed flair, led the way and helped turn RCB into a real contender. The next season, 2025, didn’t go as planned. They missed out on the playoffs, which stung. But now, heading into WPL 2026, the team’s fired up and ready to fight their way back to the top.
About Royal Challengers Bengaluru
| Owner | Royal Challengers Sports Private Ltd (United Spirits/Diageo) |
| Head Coach | Malolan Rangarajan |
| Captain | Smriti Mandhana |
| Home Ground | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| Titles Won | 1 (2024) |
The RCB Women’s team has the same owners as the men’s side—United Spirits, part of Diageo. In the first WPL auction back in 2023, they went big and bought Smriti Mandhana for Rs 3.4 crore. That made her the highest-paid player in WPL history. She didn’t just have a big price tag, though. In 2024, she led RCB to their very first title, finally breaking the franchise’s long trophy drought.
Team After the WPL 2026 Auction
Royal Challengers Bengaluru held on to four of their top players before the big auction. They’ve got Rs 6.15 crore left to spend, and they used it smartly—brought in some solid international names, plus a few promising local guys. The squad looks a lot stronger now.
Retained Players
- Smriti Mandhana – Rs 3.50 Crore
- Richa Ghosh – Rs 2.75 Crore
- Ellyse Perry – Rs 2.00 Crore
- Shreyanka Patil – Rs 60 Lakh
Players Bought at Auction
- Georgia Voll (Australia) – Batter
- Pooja Vastrakar (India) – Rs 85 Lakh
- Arundhati Reddy (India) – Rs 75 Lakh
- Lauren Bell (England) – Rs 90 Lakh
- Grace Harris (Australia) – Rs 75 Lakh
- Radha Yadav (India) – Rs 65 Lakh
- Dayalan Hemalatha (India) – Rs 30 Lakh
- Nadine de Klerk (South Africa) – Rs 65 Lakh
- Linsey Smith (England) – Rs 30 Lakh
- Prema Rawat (India) – Rs 20 Lakh
- Gautami Naik (India) – Rs 10 Lakh
- Prathyoosha Kumar (India) – Rs 10 Lakh
Team Stats in WPL
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Highest Team Total | 213 vs UPW (WPL 2025) |
| Lowest Team Total | 125/9 vs Mumbai Indians (WPL 2023) |
| Highest Individual Score | 99 – Sophie Devine vs GG (WPL 2023) |
| Most Wickets (Season) | Shreyanka Patil—19 wickets (WPL 2023-24) |
| Best Bowling Figures | 6/15 – Ellyse Perry vs MI (WPL 2024) |
Players to Watch Out for WPL 2026
1. Smriti Mandhana (India)
Smriti Mandhana, the RCB captain and ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2024, just oozes class at the crease. In 2025, she led India to their first-ever ODI World Cup win—a moment that’s already part of cricket history. She’s still the priciest player the WPL has ever seen, and she really showed her worth with that sparkling 81 against Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025, her best in the tournament so far.
2. Ellyse Perry (Australia)
Ellyse Perry isn’t just a legend—she’s rewriting records. Her 6 for 15 against the Mumbai Indians in WPL 2024 stands as the league’s best bowling performance. And she doesn’t stop there. Perry grabbed the Orange Cap that season too, smashing 347 runs. She’s the kind of all-rounder every team dreams about.
3. Richa Ghosh (India)
Richa Ghosh brings a spark every time she walks out to bat. Quick runs, big hits, and nerves of steel—she’s got it all. When the pressure’s on, and RCB needs those late runs, she’s the one who steps up, finishing games and turning the tide more than once.
4. Shreyanka Patil (India)
Shreyanka Patil, the young off-spinner, made WPL 2024 her stage. She snatched the Purple Cap with 13 wickets, and her 4 for 12 in the final sealed the deal for her team. Not just that—she took home the Emerging Player of the Season award and became the first bowler in WPL history to claim four or more wickets in a match twice, both times against Delhi Capitals. That’s some serious impact.
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Conclusion
Royal Challengers Bengaluru look fired up for WPL 2026. They’ve stuck with their core group from the championship run, but they didn’t just sit back—they grabbed some strong new signings in the auction too. With stars like Smriti Mandhana and Ellyse Perry leading the way, plus rising talent like Shreyanka Patil, this squad’s got real depth. Last year hurt—they finished dead last in 2025. So you can bet they’ll be out to show 2024 wasn’t a one-off. They want that top spot back, and you can feel the hunger.
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