The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Final between Delhi Capitals Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women at Vadodara delivered a thrilling contest that lived up to the expectations of a grand finale. With big-match pressure, fearless stroke play, and momentum swings across both innings, fans witnessed a high-scoring battle where composure in key moments ultimately defined the outcome. The clash showcased the depth of talent in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), highlighted by standout performances from Smriti Mandhana, Georgia Voll, and Jemimah Rodrigues.
Delhi Capitals Women began their innings with intent as Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee looked to attack early. Shafali’s brisk 20 off 13 balls set the tone before she fell at 49/1 in 5.5 overs, caught off Arundhati Reddy’s bowling. Lizelle Lee continued to anchor the innings with a steady 37 from 30 balls, stitching together a solid partnership with Laura Wolvaardt that stabilised the middle phase. Wolvaardt’s fluent stroke play was evident in her 44 off 25 balls, and the pair pushed the scoring rate beyond ten an over before Lee departed at 72/2 (7.3 overs).
The innings then revolved around captain Jemimah Rodrigues, whose composed yet aggressive 57 off 37 deliveries included eight boundaries. She combined with Wolvaardt in a crucial stand that rebuilt momentum after the early wickets. Even after Rodrigues fell at 148/3 in 15.6 overs, the Capitals maintained their tempo thanks to Chinelle Henry’s explosive 35* from just 15 balls, which featured powerful boundary hitting in the death overs. Wolvaardt’s late run-out at 203/4 in 19.6 overs ended a dominant batting display as Delhi posted a formidable total, driven by partnerships that kept the scoreboard moving throughout.
From a bowling perspective, RCB Women had mixed returns but managed to break key stands at important times. Sayali Satghare (1/46) and Arundhati Reddy (1/40) provided breakthroughs during the powerplay and middle overs, respectively, while Nadine de Klerk (1/48) struck at a crucial moment to remove the dangerous Rodrigues. Although Lauren Bell delivered a tidy spell of 0/19 in four overs, the Capitals’ batters managed to keep the pressure on. Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with supporting overs, but the overall challenge of containing Delhi’s aggressive approach proved difficult on a batting-friendly surface.
Chasing in a high-stakes final, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women had an early setback when Grace Harris fell for 9, leaving the side at 9/1 in 1.1 overs after Chinelle Henry struck. What followed, however, was a match-defining partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll. Mandhana’s elegant stroke play blended with aggressive intent as she raced to 87 off 41 balls, striking 12 fours and three sixes. Voll complemented her brilliantly with a composed 79 from 54 deliveries, and their massive stand carried RCB to 174/2 by the 16.3-over mark, shifting the pressure firmly onto Delhi.
After Voll’s dismissal, Delhi Capitals sensed an opening as Minnu Mani removed Richa Ghosh for 6, and Nandani Sharma later accounted for Mandhana at 191/4 in 18.4 overs. Despite these late wickets, Nadine de Klerk (7*) and Radha Yadav (12*), held their nerve to guide RCB across the line with two balls to spare, completing a memorable chase in the WPL Final.
Delhi’s bowling unit showed flashes of control but struggled to contain the Mandhana–Voll partnership. Chinelle Henry (2/34) was the standout performer, striking early and returning to remove Mandhana late in the innings. Minnu Mani (1/19) and Nandni Sharma (1/41) added important breakthroughs, while Marizanne Kapp, Shree Charani, Shafali Verma, and Sneh Rana contributed with supporting overs but couldn’t halt the scoring flow during the middle overs.
In the end, RCB Women’s six-wicket victory in the WPL 2026 Final was built on fearless batting, strong partnerships, and calm finishing under pressure. Smriti Mandhana’s Player of the Match performance headlined a successful chase, while Georgia Voll’s consistency ensured stability throughout. The final encapsulated the excitement and competitiveness of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), delivering a showcase of modern T20 cricket defined by momentum swings, impactful partnerships, and match-winning individual brilliance.
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