In a post-match press conference at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on February 5, 2026, Delhi Capitals head coach Jonathan Batty reflected on another gut-wrenching WPL final loss, as his side fell to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 6 wickets, extending their agonising runners-up streak to four straight seasons.
RCB’s skipper Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41 balls, strike rate 212.2) and Georgia Voll (79 off 54 balls, strike rate 146.3) scripted history with a record 165-run second-wicket stand, the highest for any wicket in WPL history and the first 100+ partnership in a final, chasing down DC’s milestone 203/4, the first 200+ total in a WPL final.
This marked RCB’s second title in four seasons (after 2024), completing a franchise hat-trick with their IPL 2025 triumph, while DC’s Jemimah Rodrigues (57 off 37 balls, strike rate 154.05) and Chinelle Henry (35 off 15 balls, strike rate 233.33; 4-0-34-2) fought valiantly but couldn’t overcome the margins in T20 cricket.
Jonathan Batty didn’t shy away from the pain, praising his team’s batting effort while tipping his hat to RCB’s stars. “Yeah, really tough to take, putting a really good score on the board, I was really proud of the way we went about our business with the bat, full credit to RCB, obviously, those two batters, Georgia Voll and Smriti Mandhana, played absolutely fantastically. But I’m really proud of our team’s effort, to still be in that last over and lose with only two balls to go.”
Jemimah Rodrigues, in her first season as captain, overcame early losses (DC dropped their first two games) to lead with a tournament haul of 264 runs at a strike rate of 141.93 (average 33, two half-centuries in 10 innings), including her impactful 57 that anchored a 76-run stand with Laura Wolvaardt.
Batty lauded her growth, “I’m hugely proud of Jemimah Rodrigues. She brought her energy and her experience to the table; she made outstanding decisions as captain throughout the whole tournament. Her leadership grew and grew. She’s thrown her heart and soul into this season.”
The coach highlighted the squad’s unity amid pressure, bouncing back from early setbacks to win the Eliminator against Gujarat Giants by 7 wickets on February 3. “Losing those first couple of games earlier, it did put us under pressure. In those situations, poor teams tend to fragment. We actually came together much more as a group, all brilliant humans, brilliant ladies who looked out for each other. I’m really proud and looking forward to obviously seeing what they do next year.”
DC’s bowlers, led by breakout 24-year-old Nandani Sharma (17 wickets, average 18.58, economy 8.31 in 10 innings, including a maiden five-wicket haul and hat-trick in the tournament), kept RCB honest until Radha Yadav’s fateful 12 off 5 (back-to-back boundaries in the last over) sealed the chase after a dropped catch.
Batty backed his attack against world-class batting, “I think we’ve bowled well at times all through the tournament. Smriti Mandhana is one of the best batters in the world right now. Georgia Voll is a high-quality player as well.” He dismissed regrets over tactics like delaying Marizanne Kapp, calling Rodrigues’ decisions “absolutely fantastic” on a flat track.
On the cruel pattern of four final losses, Batty remained defiant, spotting silver linings in young talents like Sharma, whom he called “the standout bowler of the tournament” for her swing, yorkers, and work ethic. Even in a gracious defeat, he wished ex-DC spinner Radha Yadav (2 wickets in the tournament at an economy 7.78 for RCB; 114 runs at a strike rate of 140.74) well, “I’m really, really pleased for Radha Yadav. Radha’s a superhuman.”
Ultimately, Batty framed the loss as sport’s harsh reality, eyes on the future, “The common denominator is we keep losing. I’m really proud. We’re obviously doing something really right if we’re getting to four finals in a row. If you keep putting yourself in finals, you will win one.”
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