WATCH: Dream start for Lauren Bell at RCB as Amelia Kerr becomes first wicket of WPL 2026

The fourth season of theignited with a high-stakes clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium. Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field, citing the potential impact of late-evening dew on the chase. England’s Lauren Bell made her RCB debut and immediately looked at home, finding sharp movement that troubled the world-class MI batting order. While Gunalan Kamalini showed early aggression with a few crisp drives, the focus quickly shifted to the intense battle between Bell and Amelia Kerr.

Lauren Bell marks RCB debut by dismissing Amelia Kerr to pick WPL 2026’s first wicket

The first breakthrough of WPL 2026 came from RCB’s debutant Lauren Bell, who orchestrated a dream start by dismissing the dangerous Kerr for just 4 runs off 15 balls. Kerr found herself etched into the record books for the wrong reasons, setting a new WPL record for the slowest start by an opening batter, taking 11 deliveries just to get off the mark.

Throughout her stay at the crease, Kerr appeared completely at sea against Bell’s extravagant inward movement and extra bounce, playing and missing at eight of the 11 balls the tall English pacer bowled to her. The dismissal eventually came in the 5th over when Kerr tried to swipe a hard-length delivery across the line, only to get a leading edge that flew straight to Arundhati Reddy at extra cover. Bell’s clinical opening spell, which included a maiden over and figures of 1/7 in her first three overs, left the Mumbai Indians reeling and proved that RCB’s new overseas recruit is perfectly suited for the bouncy Navi Mumbai track.

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WPL 2026: Late surge lifts MI to a fighting 154 as RCB’s bowlers keep the opener nicely poised

Mumbai recovered from early jolts and a stuttering middle phase to post a competitive 154/6 against Bengaluru in the opening match of WPL 2026 at Navi Mumbai, a total shaped by a strong finish rather than a fluent start.

Asked to bat first, MI struggled for momentum in the powerplay, managing just 34 runs and losing Kerr early, before Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur fell in quick succession to leave them searching for stability. That stability arrived through a measured rebuild led by Kamalini, followed by a decisive acceleration from and Sajeevan Sajana, whose fifth-wicket partnership changed the tempo of the innings.

Carey played the anchor with a controlled 40 off 29 balls, while Sajana provided the spark, attacking the spinners and pace alike to race to 45 off just 25 deliveries, including seven boundaries and a six. The final five overs yielded 54 runs, allowing MI to push past the 150 mark despite losing wickets late. RCB’s bowlers, however, ensured the damage was contained, with Nadine de Klerk emerging as the standout by picking up four wickets for 26, repeatedly striking just as MI threatened to break away. Bell was impressive with the new ball, conceding only 14 runs in her four overs and setting the tone early, while Shreyanka Patil chipped in with a crucial breakthrough.

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