GG-W Gujarat Giants Women
RCB-W Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women
Women's Premier League
Gujarat Giants Women vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Match Prediction
Last updated: 14 January 2026
Match 8 of WPL 2026 brings together two in-form teams at DY Patil Stadium in what promises to be a closely contested affair. RCB-W lead the table with a perfect 2-0 record and an impressive NRR of +1.964, while Gujarat Giants sit third with 2 wins from 3 matches after recovering from an opening-day loss.
Team Context and Recent Form
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have coped remarkably well without Ellyse Perry, who is unavailable for the entire season due to personal reasons. Nadine de Klerk stepped up magnificently in the opener against Mumbai Indians, scoring a crucial 50 and claiming 4 wickets in a match-winning all-round display. Smriti Mandhana's captaincy has been proactive and tactically astute, while Richa Ghosh provides explosive firepower in the middle order. However, RCB-W suffer another significant blow with Pooja Vastrakar ruled out for approximately two weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained during training - a considerable loss to their pace bowling depth that will test their squad rotation.
Gujarat Giants bounced back superbly after their opening loss to Mumbai Indians, registering consecutive victories over UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals. Sophie Devine was absolutely destructive against DC, smashing a sensational 95 off just 42 deliveries to showcase her power-hitting prowess. The experienced Beth Mooney provides solidity and stability at the top of the order, while captain Ashleigh Gardner's all-round abilities give the Giants crucial balance. Leg-spinner Georgia Wareham has been particularly sharp through the middle overs, extracting turn and keeping scoring rates in check.
Key Players to Watch
| Player | Team | Role | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Devine | GG-W | All-rounder | 95 (42) vs DC |
| Smriti Mandhana | RCB-W | Opener/Captain | 70 runs, avg 35 |
| Nadine de Klerk | RCB-W | All-rounder | 50 and 4-fer vs MI |
| Beth Mooney | GG-W | Opener/WK | Solid consistency |
| Georgia Wareham | GG-W | Leg-spinner | Key in middle overs |
Our Prediction
Despite losing both Perry for the season and Vastrakar to injury, RCB-W's superior form and squad depth edge them marginally ahead. Their NRR of nearly +2.0 reflects comprehensive dominance in their victories, not narrow escapes. De Klerk's emergence as a genuine all-rounder provides important cover, and Shreyanka Patil offers valuable spin options. We give RCB-W a 55% chance of winning this evenly-matched contest.
Betting Value
The bookmakers have RCB-W at 1.79 (implied probability 55.9%) and Gujarat Giants at 2.20 (implied 45.5%). Our model gives RCB-W 55%, resulting in an edge of -0.9% - essentially no exploitable value. Gujarat shows -0.5% edge, equally unappealing. The market has priced this match correctly. SKIP for betting. Evening dew at DY Patil historically favours the chasing side, making the toss potentially decisive in this tightly contested fixture between two quality teams.
