The competition between the Mumbai Indians Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women has evolved into one of the most thrilling rivalries within the Women’s Premier League framework. Spanning from the initial season in 2023 to their most recent contests in 2026, these squads have delivered intense finishes, powerful batting performances, crucial playoff games, alongside numerous impressive individual displays.
In contrast to some sports rivalries that take many years to establish, this one emerged almost right after the commencement of the WPL. The Mumbai Indians initiated their campaign with vigor, winning both encounters against RCB in the first season of 2023. However, Bengaluru responded in 2024, including a noteworthy victory in the Eliminator. The two teams split their matches in 2025, while 2026 saw each side claiming one victory.
As of January 2026, after nine total WPL clashes, the Mumbai Indians Women hold a 5-4 advantage in the overall series based on the match outcomes documented by IPL scorecards.
What adds intrigue to this rivalry is the concentration of high-caliber players participating. For Mumbai, key contributors include Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, and Amelia Kerr, while RCB showcases talents like Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry, and Richa Ghosh, who have continuously posed challenges.
Mumbai Indians Women vs RCB Women Timeline
This rivalry has been forged over four WPL seasons.
- 2023 — MI 159/1 overcame RCB 155 — Mumbai Indians
- 2023 — MI 129/6 outclassed RCB 125/9 — Mumbai Indians
- 2024 — MI 133/3 surpassed RCB 131/6 — Mumbai Indians
- 2024 — RCB 115/3 triumphed over MI 113 — RCB
- 2024 — RCB 135/6 bested MI 130/6 — RCB
- 2025 — MI 170/6 defeated RCB 167/7 — Mumbai Indians
- 2025 — RCB 199/3 won against MI 188/9 — RCB
- 2026 — RCB 157/7 outperformed MI 154/6 — RCB
- 2026 — MI 199/4 won over RCB 184/9 — Mumbai Indians
The sequence is intriguing. Mumbai secured victories in the initial three contests, followed by two wins for RCB, a split in the 2025 matchups, and again a split in the encounters of 2026.
WPL 2023: Mumbai Indians Commence With Absolute Command
The opening match was held on March 6, 2023, at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
RCB faced elimination at a score of 155, while Mumbai’s response was nothing short of extraordinary. They rapidly achieved 159/1 in merely 14.2 overs, clinching victory by nine wickets.
Match 1 – March 6, 2023
RCB’s innings saw several contributions from the upper-order batsmen; however, they could not generate enough momentum to pose a significant threat to Mumbai’s formidable batting lineup.
Hayley Matthews was the standout performer, delivering an exceptional all-round display. She scored 77 runs off 38 balls and also secured three wickets.
Mumbai concluded as follows:
- Mumbai Indians Women – 159/1
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women – 155 all out
- Outcome: Mumbai Indians won by 9 wickets.
This was an ideal start for Mumbai, immediately illustrating the gap between the two squads at that early stage of the tournament.
Match 2 – March 21, 2023
The second encounter of the inaugural season proved to be much more closely contested.
RCB compiled a score of 125/9 over the course of 20 overs, with Mumbai’s bowlers consistently claiming wickets and hindering Bengaluru from mounting any significant comeback in the later stages of the innings.
Mumbai ultimately achieved a score of 129 for the loss of 6 wickets in 16.3 overs, securing a victory by four wickets.
Amelia Kerr contributed significantly as an all-rounder, making 31 runs and claiming 3 wickets.
This outcome indicated that Mumbai had triumphed over RCB on two occasions in their inaugural WPL season.
WPL 2024: RCB Rewrites the Narrative
The second season dramatically altered the course of the competition.
Mumbai claimed victory in their initial encounter, but RCB retaliated by winning the following two matches, including the Eliminator.
Match 3 – March 2, 2024
During the match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB finished with a score of 131 for 6.
Mumbai’s pursuit was steady and methodical. They achieved a total of 133 for 3 in 17.3 overs, winning by seven wickets.
- RCB – 131/6
- MI – 133/3
- Outcome: Mumbai Indians emerged victorious by 7 wickets.
This marked Mumbai’s third straight win over Bengaluru, making their early head-to-head encounters appear very unbalanced.
Match 4 – March 12, 2024
After ten days, RCB finally reversed the outcome.
Mumbai was bowled out for a mere 113 runs, while Bengaluru chased down the target in just 15 overs, finishing at 115 for 3.
- RCB – 115/3
- MI – 113 all out
- Result: RCB triumphed by 7 wickets.
This win carried significant psychological weight. RCB had at last overcome their struggle against Mumbai, with both teams approaching a crucial point in the tournament.
2024 Eliminator: RCB’s Notable Five-Run Win
The crucial clash in their 2024 rivalry took place on March 15 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, situated in Delhi.
This match was the Eliminator, indicating that the losing side would be removed from the competition.
RCB batted initially, totaling 135 for 6 in their 20 overs.
The innings was significantly bolstered by an outstanding contribution from Ellyse Perry, who amassed 66 runs off 50 balls, including eight boundaries and a six.
Mumbai’s pursuit reached 130 for 6, but they ultimately missed the mark by five runs.
- RCB – 135/6
- MI – 130/6
- Result: RCB claimed victory by 5 runs.
Perry’s score of 66 became a hallmark performance of their early rivalry.
For RCB, this win signified more than just another game. They had knocked out the reigning champions, proving that Mumbai were no longer invincible.
WPL 2025: A Balanced Contest Between the Teams
The season of 2025 showcased two entirely contrasting encounters.
Match 6 – February 21, 2025
RCB batted first in Bengaluru, posting a total of 167 for 7.
Once again, Ellyse Perry shone brightly, scoring 81 runs in just 43 balls. Richa Ghosh contributed an additional 28 runs, setting RCB up with a commendable total.
Mumbai’s response featured their captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who made 50 runs. Nat Sciver-Brunt added 42, but the match came down to the wire.
Amanjot Kaur then provided the finishing touches, taking Mumbai to 170 for 6 in 19.5 overs.
- RCB – 167/7
- MI – 170/6
- Result: Mumbai Indians won by 4 wickets.
Amanjot’s timely hitting was crucial, while young G Kamalini played a key role in securing the winning runs.
Match 7 – March 11, 2025
The second matchup was nearly the opposite scenario.
RCB surged to an impressive score of 199 for 3, with Smriti Mandhana hitting 53 off 37 balls, and Ellyse Perry finishing not out with 49 from 38 balls. S Meghana also added a swift 26 runs off 13 balls.
Mumbai mounted a resilient response.
Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered a powerful 69 runs off just 35 balls, showcasing one of the most rapid and aggressive innings of the game.
However, Mumbai ended their innings at 188 for 9.
- RCB – 199/3
- MI – 188/9
- Result: RCB won by 11 runs.
Sneh Rana earned the Player of the Match title, claiming figures of 3 for 26.
WPL 2026: Another Set of Thrilling Matches
The rivalry continued into its fourth WPL season with another pair of exhilarating encounters.
Match 8 – January 9, 2026
The inaugural match of the 2026 WPL season featured these two sides.
Mumbai set a score of 154 for 6 across 20 overs.
RCB successfully chased down the target, finishing at 157 for 7 in 20 overs and winning by three wickets.
Nadine de Klerk was the top performer, scoring 63 runs off 44 balls and also taking 4 for 26. She received the Player of the Match award.
- MI – 154/6
- RCB – 157/7
- Result: RCB achieved victory by 3 wickets.
This match concluded with a narrow result, granting Bengaluru a head start in the 2026 season.
January 26, 2026: Nat Sciver-Brunt Makes History in WPL
The following encounter turned into one of the finest games recorded in WPL’s history.
Mumbai posted an impressive total of 199 runs for 4 wickets at Kotambi Stadium.
Nat Sciver-Brunt shone as the standout player, scoring the initial century in the history of WPL.
She ended her innings at 100 not out off 57 deliveries, with a tally of 16 fours and a single six. Hayley Matthews also played a key role, contributing 56 runs off 39 balls.
Matthews and Sciver-Brunt collaborated to amass 131 runs for the second wicket.
RCB kept fighting.
Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh launched an exceptional counteroffensive, scoring 90 runs from 50 deliveries.
In spite of her remarkable performance, RCB concluded their innings at 184 for 9.
- MI – 199/4
- Nat Sciver-Brunt – 100
- Hayley Matthews – 56
- RCB – 184/9
- Richa Ghosh – 90
- Nadine de Klerk – 28
Mumbai emerged victorious by a margin of 15 runs.
Hayley Matthews secured figures of 3 for 10, while Shabnim Ismail achieved 2 for 25.
Sciver-Brunt’s century holds significance as she became the inaugural batter to score a hundred in the Women’s Premier League. Additionally, Mumbai Indians highlighted her achievement as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, having surpassed 1,300 career runs in WPL by that point.
Key Run Scorers in this Matchup
Numerous players have consistently achieved high scores during encounters between these two teams.
Ellyse Perry
Perry has established herself as one of RCB’s most reliable batters when facing Mumbai.
Among her standout performances are:
- 81 runs during the 2025 match
- 66 runs in the 2024 Eliminator
- 49 runs in the rematch in 2025
Her capacity to remain at the crease throughout an innings has rendered her a significant threat to Mumbai.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
For Mumbai, Sciver-Brunt has emerged as a pivotal player.
Her significant innings consist of:
- 69 runs scored off 35 balls in 2025
- 100 runs from 57 balls in 2026
The century in 2026 holds special importance as it marked the first ever hundred in WPL history.
Hayley Matthews
Matthews has made meaningful contributions with both bat and ball.
One of her most memorable performances occurred in the initial meeting of 2023, where she scored 77 runs from 38 balls while also taking three wickets.
In 2026, she showcased another impressive all-around performance with her tally of 56 runs and bowling figures of 3 for 10 against RCB.
Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh showcased one of the most explosive innings in the encounters in 2026.
Her score of 90 runs from 50 balls almost led RCB to a remarkable chase targeting 200 runs. She consistently found boundaries during the final overs, intensifying pressure on Mumbai until she was dismissed.
Smriti Mandhana
Mandhana has also been involved in many significant innings.
Her noteworthy performance in the 2025 match saw her score 53 runs from 37 balls, assisting RCB in reaching 199 for 3.
Mumbai Indians Women vs RCB Women Head-to-Head Results
As of January 26, 2026, evaluating the nine matches that have taken place, the outcomes are as follows:
- Mumbai Indians Women – 5 victories
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women – 4 victories
- No matches resulted in a tie
- No matches were abandoned
The sequence of nine matches illustrates the competitiveness of this fixture. In the inaugural season, Mumbai was in command, while RCB took charge during the critical phase of 2024, leading to a series of victories exchanged between the two teams since then.
It is essential to highlight that certain live head-to-head statistics on specific IPL pages might reflect an outdated figure of 4-4, even while recounting the nine match results. The individual scorecards indicate that Mumbai has won five times, and RCB has secured four victories, making the match-by-match summaries a more reliable source for the overall counts.
Notable Individual Achievements
This rivalry has already showcased numerous performances worthy of being etched in WPL history.
Top individual score in these matchups:
- Nat Sciver-Brunt – 100 in 2026.
Second-highest personal score:
- Richa Ghosh – 90 in 2026.
Additional significant scores:
- Ellyse Perry – 81 in 2025
- Hayley Matthews – 77 in 2023
- Ellyse Perry – 66 in 2024
- Nat Sciver-Brunt – 69 in 2025
- Smriti Mandhana – 53 in 2025
- Harmanpreet Kaur – 50 in 2025
These contributions indicate that the rivalry has not solely hinged on one type of player. Power hitters, anchors, finishers, and all-rounders have all made notable impacts.
The Significance of This Rivalry
The contest between Mumbai and RCB is crucial as both teams continually draw some of the finest women’s cricketers globally.
Mumbai clinched the first WPL title in 2023 and retained the championship in 2025. RCB achieved their first title in 2024 and celebrated another victory in 2026.
This championship pedigree intensifies the stakes during encounters between the two sides.
Moreover, there is an interesting difference in their approaches. Mumbai has frequently depended on seasoned all-rounders and strong middle-order batting, while RCB has typically constructed their innings around top-order players like Mandhana and Perry before finishing strongly with explosive players.
Conclusion
The entire history of the clashes between Mumbai Indians Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women is already filled with remarkable events, despite the rivalry being relatively new.
Mumbai was dominant in the first chapter of 2023, winning both encounters. RCB shifted the storyline in 2024 with victories in the last two matches, including a narrow five-run win in the Eliminator. The 2025 season was evenly matched, with Mumbai clinching a thrilling chase by four wickets, followed by RCB’s response with an 11-run win.
Then came 2026.
RCB claimed victory in their first match by three wickets, but Mumbai fired back with a remarkable 15-run win, where Nat Sciver-Brunt became the first player in WPL history to achieve a century.
After nine matches have concluded, Mumbai holds a slight edge with a 5-4 head-to-head record, but the teams are very closely matched.
More significantly, this rivalry has already yielded some of the WPL’s most memorable individual performances: Matthews’ dynamic 77, Perry’s scores of 66 and 81, Sciver-Brunt’s remarkable 69 and historic 100, and Richa Ghosh’s impressive 90.
This is the reason this match has transformed into more than just another game in the league. Each encounter contributes additional chapters to the swiftly expanding history of the WPL, and as both teams persist in strengthening their rosters, the competition between the Mumbai Indians Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women appears destined to stay as one of the league’s prominent battles in the future.
