In a moment that quickly grabbed attention on social media, Indian women’s cricket star Smriti Mandhana, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), appeared visibly annoyed by the behavior of a cameraman just before the start of her team’s Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season opener against Mumbai Indians.

The incident was caught on video and circulated widely online, showing Mandhana engaged in practice ahead of the match when a cameraperson moved unusually close to her while she was facing throwdowns.

Cameraman not leaving Smrithi alone to practice and see Smrithi’s reaction 😂 pic.twitter.com/QVF8q4WTzw

— RCB (@RCBtweetzz) January 9, 2026

This proximity seemed to disrupt her routine and prompted a clear display of irritation from the RCB skipper. Viewers of the clip could see the discomfort on Mandhana’s face as she managed the intrusion into her preparation time — a professional athlete’s critical focus period. 

The Match and Mandhana’s Performance

The brief disturbance didn’t translate into a big performance from Mandhana during the match itself. She managed just 18 runs from 13 balls in a game that nonetheless turned into a thrilling contest. RCB eked out a dramatic three-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians in what became a highly entertaining season opener at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Although Mandhana’s bat didn’t make a major impact, her leadership and team’s resilience did. A substantial contribution came from South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk, who played a key role in steering RCB toward victory in the final moments of the match. 

Mandhana’s Reaction and Post-Match Comments

Despite the on-field distraction earlier, Mandhana later reflected on the match with a positive outlook. Speaking during the post-match presentation, she acknowledged the excitement and challenge of a first game in the WPL season, saying, “I think for the first match of the WPL, it was a thriller. And RCB are known to play thrillers.”

She elaborated that last season, her team had been on the losing end of tight finishes, making this win satisfying. Mandhana also praised de Klerk’s finishing, noting how her aggressive batting helped clinch the result. The skipper added that even when things weren’t going their way during the contest, the team “was having a laugh. Even when things were not going well, everyone was pretty positive.”

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