New Delhi, Feb 3 (NationPress) Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s explosive all-rounder Grace Harris emphasized that her differing personality compared to captain Smriti Mandhana has been crucial to their thriving opening partnership as the team gears up for the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) final, scheduled at BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday.

The Australian dynamo was assigned the role of opening alongside Smriti by head coach Malolan Rangarajan during a practice session prior to the tournament. Rangarajan advised Grace to 'go for the cheese and not the cat,' which means to take risks without fearing dismissal.

Grace has scored 228 runs in eight matches with an impressive strike-rate of 180.95, creating a strong opening tandem with Smriti, who ranks third among run-scorers in WPL 2026 with 290 runs at a strike-rate of 141.46. “She’s been incredible. She’s quite a reserved individual, probably the complete opposite of me when it comes to game day. Sometimes, opposites click, and sometimes they don’t,” Grace noted.

“But I’m pleased to say that opposites have clicked this time, at least from my perspective. You’ll have to ask Smriti how she feels, but she’s laid-back. She doesn’t say much on the field. A simple glove-punch from her ensures we’re aligned on our strategies and how to tackle certain bowlers,” Grace shared during a recent virtual interaction with IANS.

As they approach the title match, where RCB aims to clinch their second title following their victory in 2024, the team enjoyed a brief retreat in Goa before resuming practice for the final. Grace believes this break was essential for maintaining mental freshness heading into the championship.

“Finals inherently bring heightened expectations and pressure. It’s just really nice. Sometimes, in franchise competitions, you find yourself in a bubble, and things can spiral downwards,” she explained.

“The mental aspect can deteriorate quickly, especially for overthinkers or those who spend excessive time contemplating cricket. Hence, Goa was a wonderful experience. I had never been there before, but I truly enjoyed it, and I think many of the girls did too,” she added.

“If you put in the effort, you deserve those breaks where you can blend business with pleasure. Striking that balance is crucial for any athlete or performance role. Sometimes, mental clarity holds more weight than the hours you invest in training or your physical condition, if that makes sense. So, it was genuinely enjoyable,” she elaborated.

Grace concluded by revealing the secret behind RCB's successful run in WPL 2026. “What we’ve excelled at is functioning as a cohesive unit - everyone has embraced their roles, stepping up at various moments,” she stated.

“It’s been a lot of fun, and we’ve attempted to learn from both our victories and defeats, which has been invigorating during our team discussions. Our focus has been on adapting swiftly to the conditions and executing an effective brand of T20 cricket, which has been a blast.”