Big matches come with big pressure, and sometimes even small distractions can test a player’s focus. Ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s WPL 2026 clash against Mumbai Indians, Smriti Mandhana found herself dealing with one such moment while preparing for the game.
As Smriti Mandhana practised her shots during the warm-up, a cameraperson moved in far too close, interrupting her while she was facing throwdowns. The moment, caught on video and now circulating on social media, clearly showed her irritation as the intrusion broke her rhythm before an important match. Despite the distraction, Smriti Mandhana quickly shifted her focus back to the game.
Here is the video of the incident:
https://x.com/RCBtweetzz/status/2009610737707299160
Click to watch this video directly on X
Smriti Mandhana went on to score 18 runs off 13 balls, giving RCB a steady start at the top. However, the match turned into a rollercoaster for the Bengaluru side. After a confident beginning from Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris, RCB were cruising early, reaching 20 without loss in just two overs. Both the openers attacked Nat Sciver-Brunt and Shabnim Ismail, striking boundaries to put pressure on the MI bowlers.
RCB were 47/2 after five overs but then suffered a sudden collapse. The team slipped to 65/5 by the eighth over, losing three wickets in quick succession. Harris made a brisk 25 off 12 balls before departing, leaving the middle order under pressure.
Chasing 155 for victory, RCB found themselves struggling at 137/7, needing 18 runs from the final over. That’s when Nadine de Klerk turned the game on its head. She smashed a six and a boundary off the third and fourth balls, followed by another six on the penultimate delivery. With two needed off the last ball, she calmly struck a boundary off Nat Sciver-Brunt to seal a dramatic three-wicket win. Prema Rawat stayed unbeaten on eight as RCB finished on 157/7.
For Mumbai Indians, Nicola Carey and Amelia Kerr took two wickets each, while Nat Sciver-Brunt, Shabnim Ismail and Amanjot Kaur chipped in with one each. In the end, it was RCB’s nerve and Nadine de Klerk’s late heroics that stole the show.
