With just three league-stage matches left in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, from January 9 to February 5, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Smriti Mandhana, have locked in their playoff spot with 10 points from seven games (five wins, two losses) and a stellar net run rate (NRR) of +0.947. They face UP Warriorz on January 29 in their final outing, eyeing a top two finish to head straight to the final.
The battle for the remaining two spots intensifies among Delhi Capitals (DC, captained by Jemimah Rodrigues), Gujarat Giants (GG, led by Ashleigh Gardner), Mumbai Indians (MI, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur), and UP Warriorz (UPW, headed by Meg Lanning). Two of GG and MI look primed to join RCB, but DC lurks close while UPW’s poor NRR (-0.769) makes their path treacherous despite two games remaining.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Table-Toppers with a Twist
RCB’s firm grip on first place persists despite back-to-back losses after five straight wins. Richa Ghosh’s blistering 90 against MI on Monday limited the damage to a 15-run defeat, keeping their NRR at +0.947. A win over UPW on January 29 seals the top spot, but GG lurks 160 runs behind on NRR. Only a record-margin loss for RCB or a massive GG win over MI could drop them to second, forcing an Eliminator for the Smriti Mandhana-led side.
Gujarat Giants: Eight Points, But No Room for Error
Sitting pretty in second with 8 points and an NRR of -0.271, GG’s fate hinges on their January 30 clash with MI. A win by any margin guarantees playoffs, and a monster margin could propel them to the top if RCB stumbles against UPW, marking GG’s first WPL final shot. Yet peril looms: a narrow loss to MI ends their run if UPW beats RCB decently. They’re ahead of UPW by 55 NRR runs but trail DC by just 15, vulnerable if DC tops UPW or UPW surges to 8 points convincingly.
Mumbai Indians: Defending Champs with Cushion
The two-time champions hold 6 points and a solid NRR of +0.146, facing GG on January 30, their final hurdle. MI’s perfect 8-0 WPL record against GG gives them confidence for a must-win that locks an Eliminator spot regardless of margin, potentially leapfrogging GG due to superior NRR. They can even afford a loss if RCB beats UPW, banking on UPW to upset DC (but not by too much); their NRR edge over UPW provides breathing room. Only one of DC or UPW can hit 8 points, and MI’s rate shields them from most threats.
Delhi Capitals: Virtual Quarterfinal Coming Up
DC, with 6 points and NRR -0.164, stare down a do-or-die February 1 showdown with UPW. Victory catapults them into the playoffs, trumping GG’s 8 points thanks to their NRR superiority. Loss keeps them alive only via a perfect storm: RCB beating UPW, plus GG thrashing MI massively. That ties DC, MI, and UPW on 6 points, where NRR decides, DC leads UPW by 70 runs but trails MI by over 40 runs.
UP Warriorz: Desperate Double Wins, NRR the Ultimate Hurdle
Languishing at the bottom with 4 points and the league’s worst NRR (-0.769), UPW must sweep RCB (January 29) and DC (February 1) to reach 8 points. Even then, overtaking GG (55 NRR runs ahead) demands massive improvements, especially if GG beats MI. A lone win over DC offers an outside shot at 6 points, but only with GG toppling MI and UPW’s NRR exploding past MI’s 110+ runs lead, a tall order against quality sides.
Loves all things female cricket