Cricket fans got more than they bargained for on opening night of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. In a match dripping with tension, twists, and sheer individual brilliance, South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk etched her name into WPL folklore with a performance for the ages. Her sensational all-round show—4 wickets for just 26 runs followed by an unbeaten 63 off 48 balls—powered Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a heart-stopping three-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians… on the very last ball of the match .
After the dust settled and the confetti fell, a visibly emotional De Klerk admitted, “It will take a couple of days for this win to sink in.” For fans and analysts alike, it might take even longer to fully process just how dominant—and clutch—her contribution truly was.
Table of Contents
- The Match That Had Everything
- Nadine de Klerk WPL Performance: Bowling & Batting Brilliance
- How RCB Chased Down MI’s 159
- Why De Klerk’s Innings Was So Special
- Historical Context: WPL Openers and All-Round Feats
- What This Means for RCB and De Klerk
- Conclusion: A Star Is Reborn in Bengaluru
- Sources
The Match That Had Everything
From the first over to the final delivery, RCB vs MI was a rollercoaster. Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, posted a competitive 159/7 thanks to half-centuries from Yastika Bhatia and Amelia Kerr. The pitch offered grip early on, but flattened out under Bengaluru’s lights—a perfect setup for a chase.
Yet RCB’s top order crumbled under pressure. Openers fell cheaply. Captain Smriti Mandhana departed for 18. At 78/5 in the 12th over, the game seemed lost. Enter Nadine de Klerk—not just as a finisher, but as the architect of an impossible comeback.
Nadine de Klerk WPL Performance: Bowling & Batting Brilliance
De Klerk’s impact began with the ball. Her opening spell dismantled MI’s momentum:
- Dismissed Hayley Matthews (dangerous opener) in the 3rd over.
- Trapped Nat Sciver-Brunt LBW with a sharp inswinger.
- Broke a crucial 62-run stand by clean-bowling Amelia Kerr.
- Finished with figures of 4/26 in 4 overs—the best by an RCB bowler in WPL history.
But her real magic came with the bat. Walking in at No. 7 with the required rate climbing past 12, De Klerk played with astonishing calm and calculated aggression. She targeted spinners through midwicket, carved pace over point, and—most importantly—kept her nerve when wickets tumbled at the other end.
How RCB Chased Down MI’s 159
The chase was built on two key partnerships:
- Renuka Singh & De Klerk (32 runs): Stabilized the innings after the fifth wicket fell.
- De Klerk & Kanika Ahuja (41* runs): The unbroken stand that sealed the deal, with Ahuja playing the perfect foil.
Needing 9 off the final over bowled by Saika Ishaque, De Klerk smashed a four and a six in the first three balls—leaving just 1 run needed off 3 deliveries. A dot, a single, and then… pandemonium as the winning run crossed the line on the last legal delivery.
Why De Klerk’s Innings Was So Special
This wasn’t just another quickfire knock. Consider the context:
- Pressure:** Came in with RCB reeling at 78/5.
- Situation:** Facing a world-class MI bowling attack on a slow track.
- Stakes:** WPL opener against the two-time champions.
- Execution:** Struck at 131.25 while maintaining control—only 3 boundaries before the final over!
Her ability to absorb pressure and accelerate precisely when needed showcased elite temperament. As former India captain Jhulan Goswami noted on air, “This is the kind of innings that wins you tournaments.”
Historical Context: WPL Openers and All-Round Feats
All-round performances in T20 leagues are rare; match-winning ones in season openers are rarer still. De Klerk joins an elite club:
| Player | League | All-Round Feat | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nadine de Klerk | WPL 2026 | 4/26 + 63* | Won on last ball |
| Ellyse Perry | WBBL 2022 | 3/18 + 52* | Won by 6 wickets |
| Heather Knight | The Hundred 2023 | 2/20 + 48 | Lost by 4 runs |
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), fewer than 5% of T20 matches feature a player scoring 50+ and taking 3+ wickets in the same game [[EXTERNAL_LINK:https://www.icc-cricket.com/]]. De Klerk didn’t just achieve it—she did it under the brightest lights.
What This Means for RCB and De Klerk
For RCB, this win is more than just 2 points. It’s a statement of intent after years of near-misses. With De Klerk now proving she can deliver in crunch moments, the team has a genuine X-factor beyond Mandhana and Sophie Devine.
For De Klerk personally, this could be a career inflection point. Once seen primarily as a bowling all-rounder, she’s now demonstrated she can anchor—and finish—a high-stakes chase. Expect her value in global T20 auctions to skyrocket. For more on rising stars in women’s cricket, see our profile on [INTERNAL_LINK:wpl-emerging-players-2026].
Conclusion: A Star Is Reborn in Bengaluru
“It will take a couple of days for the win to sink in,” De Klerk said—but for fans, the legend of her Nadine de Klerk WPL masterpiece is already cemented. In one night, she transformed from a reliable squad member into RCB’s new heartbeat. As the WPL 2026 unfolds, one thing is certain: if RCB goes all the way, it will be because of nights like this—and players like her.
Sources
- Times of India. “‘It will take couple of days for win to sink in’: Nadine de Klerk.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…/articleshow/126446667.cms
- ESPNcricinfo. “WPL 2026: RCB vs MI – Match Report.” January 10, 2026.
- International Cricket Council (ICC). “T20 All-Round Performance Statistics.” https://www.icc-cricket.com/