Vadodara, Jan 19 (NationPress) In a thrilling showdown at the Kotambi Stadium, the Gujarat Giants won the toss and chose to bowl first against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 12th match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026. The Giants made two key adjustments to their lineup, introducing Anushka Sharma and giving a debut to Happy Kumari, who replaces Shivani Singh and seasoned spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Captain Ashleigh Gardner of the Gujarat Giants expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "We're opting to bowl first. It’s fantastic to have a supportive home crowd. While there will be numerous RCB fans, we're excited to be here. Last year, we kicked off our campaign against RCB at this venue. We aim to gain momentum. Anushka rejoins us after her hand injury, and we’re thrilled to see Happy Kumari debuting. This ground is known for high scores; our focus will be on maintaining stumps in play as bowlers. Although it favors batters, we’ll keep it straightforward and ensure our bowlers perform well."

On the other side, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana remarked, "We're focusing on the basics. Our bowlers provided a great start in the last match, and our batters are executing their roles effectively. New players consistently step up, which is encouraging. We're taking it one game at a time and not getting distracted by external factors. Our squad is youthful and energetic, and it can be challenging to maintain intensity with a packed schedule. The commitment shown by everyone is commendable. Today, my job is simple as we stick with the same XI."

Playing XIs:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Gautami Naik, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell, Sayali Satghare

Gujarat Giants Women: Beth Mooney (wk), Anushka Sharma, Sophie Devine, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwar, Happy Kumari, Renuka Singh Thakur