In an intense clash during the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Gautami Naik showcased her talent with a remarkable innings against the Gujarat Giants in Vadodara. Naik’s stellar performance became the highlight of the match where RCB’s top-order batters fell short.

The match began on a disappointing note for RCB as overseas players Grace Harris and Georgia Voll managed only a single run each. However, Naik turned the tables with a fantastic knock of 73 runs off 55 balls, securing her first-ever fifty in the league and guiding RCB to a competitive total of 178/6.

After RCB found themselves struggling at 9/2, Gautami Naik stepped in and played an innings that steadied the ship. She formed a crucial 60-run partnership with RCB captain Smriti Mandhana, who contributed a valuable 26 runs to the total. Naik further propelled the innings with an additional partnership of 69 runs alongside Richa Ghosh, who added 27 runs to the score.

Naik started cautiously but accelerated her scoring as the innings progressed, reaching her half-century in 44 balls. She eventually fell in the 18th over after being trapped by Ashleigh Gardner, but her innings featured an impressive display that included seven fours and a six.

This match marked a significant moment for the 27-year-old uncapped batter, making it her WPL debut. Previous to this innings, Naik had scored only nine runs in her earlier appearance this season but showcased her potential with a standout performance this time around.

In support, RCB’s Radha Yadav contributed with a quick 17 runs off just eight balls towards the end, helping RCB exceed the 170-run mark. Despite the solid performances from Naik and Yadav, Gujarat Giants’ bowlers Ashleigh Gardner and Kashvee Gautam each took two wickets, albeit at a cost, while Renuka Singh stood out as the best bowler, conceding just 23 runs for one wicket in her four-over spell.