In a Women’s Premier League (WPL) final that will be remembered for years to come, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pulled off the unthinkable at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Chasing a mammoth target of 204—the highest ever set in a WPL final—RCB rode on the back of a clinical batting masterclass to clinch their second title. It was a high-octane encounter where Delhi Capitals (DC) seemed to have the upper hand after posting a record-breaking 203/4, but RCB’s relentless chase saw them cross the finish line with 204/4 in 19.4 overs, securing a 6-wicket victory and leaving Delhi with their fourth consecutive final heartbreak.
The evening started with Smriti Mandhana winning the toss and elected to bowl, but the Delhi openers, Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma, quickly made her second-guess that decision. After a quiet first three overs where they managed only 9 runs, the floodgates opened. Lee was particularly destructive, smashing three sixes in her 30-ball 37. While Shafali fell for a brisk 20 off 13 balls, the momentum didn’t shift. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up on the big stage, stitching together a vital 76-run partnership with Laura Wolvaardt that kept the scoreboard ticking at a frantic pace.
Jemimah was the linchpin of the Delhi innings, playing with a mix of elegance and aggression. She reached her half-century in just 32 deliveries—the second-fastest in WPL playoff history—eventually finishing with 57 off 37 balls, decorated with eight boundaries. Wolvaardt provided excellent support with a composed 44 off 25. However, the real sting in the tail came from Chinelle Henry, whose unbeaten 35 off just 15 balls (at a strike rate of 233.33) propelled Delhi past the 200-run mark. For RCB, Lauren Bell was the only bowler who managed to keep some control, finishing with incredible figures of 0/19 in her 4 overs amidst the carnage.
Chasing 204 in a final is usually a mountain too steep to climb, and when Grace Harris fell for just 9 in the second over, the pressure was immense. But what followed was one of the greatest partnerships in the tournament’s history. Skipper Smriti Mandhana and the young Georgia Voll took the game by the scruff of its neck. Mandhana was in beast mode from the get-go, reaching her fifty in a lightning-fast 23 balls—the fastest ever in a WPL final. Together, they added a staggering 165 runs for the second wicket, effectively batting Delhi out of the contest.
Mandhana’s innings of 87 off 41 balls was a captain’s knock in the truest sense, featuring 12 fours and 3 massive sixes. At the other end, Georgia Voll played the perfect foil and aggressor combined, anchoring the chase with a brilliant 79 off 54. Despite a minor hiccup towards the end where both set batters fell in quick succession to Chinelle Henry and Minnu Mani, the foundation was too solid to crumble. RCB needed 10 runs off the final over, and the atmosphere was electric.
The tension was palpable as the final over began, but Radha Yadav showed nerves of steel against Nallapureddy Charani. After a few singles, Radha found the boundary twice in a row to seal the deal with two balls to spare. The RCB dugout erupted as they completed the highest successful run chase in WPL history. Mandhana was rightfully named Player of the Match, ending the season with the Orange Cap (377 runs), while the victory cemented RCB’s status as a powerhouse in the league, level with Mumbai Indians with two titles each.
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