Vadodara, Jan 19 (NationPress) A thrilled captain, Smriti Mandhana, lauded Gautami Naik's exceptional performance of 73 runs off 55 balls under immense pressure, which played a crucial role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) establish a competitive target against Gujarat Giants during Match 12 of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 on Monday.

After being put in to bat first, RCB experienced a rocky beginning. Renuka Singh Thakur made her mark in the very first over, sending Grace Harris back for just 1 run. Following that, Kashvee Gautam dismissed Georgia Voll in the subsequent over, leaving RCB struggling early on.

It was then that Smriti Mandhana joined forces with Gautami Naik. The duo concentrated on stabilizing the innings and led RCB to a score of 37/2 by the end of the Power-play. Mandhana and Naik forged a vital partnership of 60 runs off 45 balls for the third wicket.

"I am very pleased. Considering our initial struggles in the batting innings, scoring over 180 was remarkable. I am extremely proud of Gautami. Transitioning from domestic cricket to perform at this level, coming in at 10/2, and executing such an outstanding innings is commendable. Richa, Radha, and Nadine finished the innings off splendidly. Our bowling strategies were executed perfectly too," Mandhana expressed after the match.

Naik was pivotal in RCB's resurgence as she found an able partner in Richa Ghosh. Naik achieved her first WPL fifty off 42 balls, while Richa contributed 27 runs from 20 balls. Their partnership concluded in the final over of RCB's innings when Sophie Devine caught Richa at long-off.

Naik’s remarkable innings of 73 off 55 balls came to an end in the 18th over when she was bowled by Gardner. By then, RCB was well set for a strong finish. Radha Yadav (17) and Shreyanka Patil (8 not out) made significant contributions, capitalizing on the solid groundwork laid earlier. Their efforts helped RCB conclude with a total of 178/6, scoring 17 runs in the last over.

"I believe the attitude she displayed from the first game was commendable. Though she didn’t get a chance to bat in the opening match, her attitude remained exemplary. You can face challenges, but the mindset must always be positive. Today, her application was spot on. The pitch wasn’t easy, but she adapted quickly and batted brilliantly despite being inexperienced. That was an extraordinary performance," Mandhana noted.

RCB exhibited an incredibly aggressive approach right from the start of the defense. Sayali Satghare capitalized on this intensity, achieving a spectacular two-wicket over in the second over. Satghare's remarkable feat included catching both Beth Mooney (3 runs) and Sophie Devine (0 runs). In the following over, Lauren Bell joined the RCB bowling effort, dismissing Kanika Ahuja on just her third ball of the over, leaving Gujarat in a precarious position at 5 for 3 after three overs.

Satghare excelled among the bowlers with figures of 3-21, showcasing a strong team effort, while Nadine de Klerk contributed with figures of 2-21.

"It's fantastic to witness this. When you have five different match-winners in the team, it's gratifying to see everyone contribute. Each player has had their moment in this WPL, whether taking a wicket, breaking a partnership, or executing a good catch. This collective effort is truly special. We are looking forward to a break; having played three games in four days, including travel, I am extremely proud of the girls. The message will be clear: take a short break before we resume. It's hard to express to this group how hard they’ve worked," she concluded.