The stage is set at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara for a blockbuster Women’s Premier League (WPL) finale that carries as much historical weight as it does sport drama. As Smriti Mandhana prepares to lead her Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side out for the 2026 WPL final, she isn’t just chasing a trophy; she is chasing a legacy.
Following the men’s breakthrough Indian Premier League (IPL) title last year, a victory in the WPL 2026 Final would complete a historic double, making RCB the first franchise to hold both major T20 titles simultaneously. Standing in their way, however, is a Delhi Capitals squad that has become the league’s most consistent powerhouse, now making their fourth consecutive appearance in a summit clash.
Within this team battle lies a fascinating internal race for the record books. Since the inception of the league, Ellyse Perry has been the bedrock of the RCB batting order, currently sitting as the franchise’s all-time leading run-scorer with 972 runs. Mandhana, however, has been closing the gap at a rapid pace.
Entering today’s match with 936 runs, Mandhana needs just 37 to overtake her legendary teammate. The moment will see a captain eclipsing its own star player’s record during the most important game of the season, adding a layer of personal competition to the high-pressure environment of a final.
Beyond the intra-team rivalry, Mandhana is also on the doorstep of the 1,000-run club. If she manages to score 64 runs tonight, she will become the first RCB player to reach the four-figure mark in WPL history. This would place her in an elite group of only five players to have achieved the feat, joining icons like Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur.
While Mandhana has played more matches to reach this point compared to Perry, her impact at the top of the order remains the engine that drives Bengaluru’s ambitions.
Most runs in WPL history:
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI) – 1348 runs
- Meg Lanning (DC/UPW) – 1200 runs
- Harmanpreet Kaur (MI) – 1193 runs
- Shafali Verma (DC) – 1104 runs
- Ellyse Perry (RCB) – 972 runs
- Smriti Mandhana (RCB) – 936 runs
For Delhi Capitals, the match is about more than just statistics; it is about redemption. Having fallen short in three previous finals, the Capitals are desperate to finally secure the silverware that has eluded them. They boast a lineup featuring some of the highest run-getters in the league’s history, including Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma, both of whom have already crossed the 1,000-run milestone.
As the sun sets in Vadodara, the narrative will shift from individual milestones to collective glory, but whether it is Mandhana’s record-breaking night or Delhi’s long-awaited coronation remains to be seen.
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