How Lauren Bell Became RCB's Best Decision At WPL 2026: Know Her Story

There are fast bowlers who take wickets. Then there are fast bowlers who choke the life out of a match. Lauren Bell does the second. In the 2026 Women’s Premier League final, that cold and stubborn control helped Royal Challengers Bangalore cross the line in one of the tightest games the tournament has seen. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever been part of a game like that,” Bell admitted later. Take a look at her journey to becoming one of the most reliable fast bowlers in modern T20 cricket.

A WPL Season Built on Control

In a tournament dominated by high scores, Bell stood out because she did not simply hunt wickets. She made scoring difficult.

Across the season, she bowled 216 deliveries and sent down 128 dot balls. Nearly 60 per cent of her balls conceded nothing. No other bowler in the tournament matched that level of control.

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Her performances in key games underlined her value. Against Gujarat Giants, she returned figures of 3 for 29 to set up a comfortable win.

Against Delhi Capitals, she struck twice in the very first over, removing Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt to push RCB ahead immediately. 

In the final, Bell finished with 4 overs for 19 runs, claiming one of the most economical spells of the tournament. Time and again, she gave RCB early momentum in the power play.

Early Life and the Making of The Shard

At six feet tall, Bell stands out on the field. Her height gives her extra bounce, making the new ball difficult for batters. That physical presence has earned her a nickname too: The Shard.

Cricket was not her only sport growing up. Until the age of 16, she played football for Reading FC’s Academy. She was educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire, where she became the first girl to play for the school’s 1st XI.

She also played for Hungerford Cricket Club, competing regularly with boys and older players, which toughened her game early.

Her county debut came quickly. In 2015, at just 14, she made her Women’s County Championship debut for Berkshire. She played eight matches that season and took seven wickets, gaining experience well beyond her years.

Climbing Through Domestic Cricket

Bell’s rise through the domestic system was steady. She continued with Berkshire, later spending time with Middlesex in the Twenty20 Cup.

In 2018, she broke into the Southern Vipers side in the Women’s Cricket Super League and featured in the 2019 final. In 2020, she was one of 41 women awarded a full-time professional contract and also joined Southern Brave in The Hundred.

Following team restructuring, she signed for Hampshire for the 2025 season. She represented UP Warriorz in the inaugural WPL before moving to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where she had her most successful T20 season yet.

Stepping onto the International Pitch

Her international pathway followed a similar pattern of consistent progress. She played for England Academy against Australia in 2019 and earned an academy contract soon after.

In 2022, she earned a spot in the England women's cricket team across formats, making her Test debut against South Africa in June and her ODI debut in July. By November, she had received her first central contract.

Since then, she has featured in the Ashes across formats, played multiple T20Is and ODIs, and continued to develop as a new-ball option. In 2024, she claimed her first five-wicket haul in ODIs against New Zealand.

At 25, Lauren Bell’s career already carries weight. Her journey from Berkshire grounds to a packed WPL final has been built on skill and hard work. In modern T20 cricket, she has emerged as a fast bowler who can change a game before the batters even settle.