Delhi Capitals stepped into yet another WPL final with belief and purpose, knowing this was another chance to turn years of consistency into a title. Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and chose to field, hoping the conditions would favour a chase. That decision meant Delhi had to set the tone first and they did so with confidence on a good batting surface.
Shafali Verma set the early tempo, playing her natural attacking game and putting the RCB bowlers under immediate pressure. Her quick 20 off 13 balls ensured Delhi started on the front foot, even though her dismissal brought an early breakthrough for RCB. Lizelle Lee then took charge, batting with composure and authority. She found the gaps regularly and kept the scoreboard ticking with a fluent 37, making sure Delhi never lost momentum.
The backbone of the innings came through Laura Wolvaardt and skipper Jemimah Rodrigues. Wolvaardt looked elegant and dangerous in equal measure, scoring a rapid 44 off 25 balls that included 3 fours and 2 sixes before being run out on the very last ball of the inning. Rodrigues, meanwhile, played a true captain’s knock. Calm under pressure, she paced her innings perfectly, 57 off 37 deliveries hitting 8 boundaries while guiding the team through the middle overs.
As the innings moved towards the final stretch, Chinelle Henry provided the spark Delhi needed. Her unbeaten 35 off just 15 balls completely shifted the momentum, as she took on the bowlers with clean hitting and fearless intent. The late surge pushed Delhi past the 200 run mark, turning a strong total into a daunting one.
Delhi Capitals finished on an imposing 203/4 from 20 overs. Once again in the final, they looked balanced, confident, and hungry. With runs on the board and history waiting to be rewritten, Delhi walked off knowing they had given themselves a real chance to finally lift the WPL trophy.
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