A final that will be etched in the memory of every cricket fan in Karnataka as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defied the odds and a record-breaking target to clinch their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title.
On a humid Thursday night in Vadodara, Smriti Mandhana’s side proved that 2024 wasn’t a fluke, chasing down a mammoth 204 to leave the Delhi Capitals (DC) heartbroken for a fourth consecutive season.
Here is how the historic night at the Kotambi Stadium unfolded.
The Set-Up: DC’s Batting Blitz:
When Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to bowl, the decision seemed to backfire almost immediately. Despite a disciplined opening spell from Lauren Bell (who finished with remarkable figures of 0/19 in a high-scoring game), Delhi found their gears quickly. Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues led from the front with a sparkling 57 off 37 balls, anchoring a middle-order surge alongside Laura Wolvaardt (44). However, the real sting came late in the innings.
Chinelle Henry unleashed a brutal cameo, smashing 35 runs off just 15 deliveries to propel Delhi to 203/4. At the break, the vibe in the DC dugout was one of supreme confidence; no team had ever successfully chased 200-plus in a WPL or IPL final.
The Heroic Pursuit: Mandhana and Voll:
The chase began with a stutter as Grace Harris fell early, but what followed was a masterclass in modern T20 batting. Captain Smriti Mandhana and Australian sensation Georgia Voll stitched together a record-breaking 165-run partnership for the second wicket.
- Smriti Mandhana: In a revelation that emerged after the match, Mandhana played through a 103-degree fever. Her 87 off 41 balls (including 12 fours and 3 sixes) was an exhibition of sheer willpower, timing, and calculated aggression.
- Georgia Voll: Playing the perfect foil, Voll contributed a blistering 79 off 54 balls, ensuring the asking rate never climbed out of reach.
The duo targeted the spin of Minnu Mani and the pace of Sree Charani with surgical precision, reaching the 100-run mark in just 10 overs.
In true RCB fashion, the finish wasn’t without its drama. Within the space of a few deliveries in the death overs, both Voll and Mandhana were dismissed, leaving the dugout visibly anxious. With 10 runs needed off the final over, the pressure was immense.
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However, Radha Yadav kept her cool. After a couple of tense singles, she dispatched back-to-back boundaries off the third and fourth balls of the 20th over to seal the victory with two balls to spare.
WPL 2026: Key Tournament Awards:
| Award | Winner | Achievement |
| Orange Cap | Smriti Mandhana (RCB) | 377 Runs |
| Purple Cap | Sophie Devine (GG) | 17 Wickets |
| MVP | Sophie Devine (GG) | All-round Dominance |
| Emerging Player | Nandani Sharma (DC) | Breakthrough Talent |
A Legacy of Resilience:
For Delhi Capitals, the “runner-up” tag is becoming a heavy burden to carry, having lost all four WPL finals to date. For RCB, however, this win marks a massive milestone. They are now the most successful team alongside Mumbai Indians (two titles each) and the first franchise to hold both the IPL and WPL crowns simultaneously.
As the golden confetti settled over Vadodara, Mandhana’s gritty 87 proved that sometimes, leadership is simply about showing up when you’re at your weakest to deliver your best.
