Delhi Capitals continued their charge in the Women’s Premier League 2026 with a commanding, methodical victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, a result that underlined their growing clarity and confidence as the tournament reaches its business end.
Bowling RCB out for a modest 109 before chasing it down with seven wickets in hand, the JSW and GMR co-owned franchise produced one of their most complete performances of the season to register back-to-back wins and stay firmly in the playoff hunt.
On a surface that was slow, low and demanding precise execution, Delhi Capitals were tactically spot on from the moment Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss and opted to field. Rather than chasing pace or trying to force breakthroughs, the Capitals’ bowlers focused on control, lengths and subtle variations, forcing RCB’s batters into errors.
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The tone was set early by Marizanne Kapp and Chinelle Henry, who made scoring difficult with disciplined new-ball spells. As the innings progressed, the onus fell on the spin and change bowlers to squeeze the middle overs, and they did so with impressive composure. Nandni Sharma once again led the way, finishing with outstanding figures of 3 for 26, including two crucial wickets in the final over to prevent any late flourish. Her performance ensured she retained the Purple Cap with 13 wickets in the competition so far, further underlining her impact as one of the standout bowlers of the season.
Minnu Mani played a key role in that collective effort, returning figures of 2 for 18 and repeatedly tying down RCB’s batters through the middle phase. Reflecting on the performance, Mani emphasised how much of it came down to preparation and clarity of roles.
“We were very clear with our plans going into the game because we knew the wicket here would be slow and low,” she said after the match. “As a bowling unit, we focused on hitting the right lengths and not trying to do too much. Everyone stuck to their roles, and the way we executed our plans collectively made a big difference.”
That clarity was evident in how Delhi operated. Rather than looking for magic balls, they were content to build pressure. RCB struggled to find momentum as runs dried up, and with each dot ball the required risk increased. By the time Nandni struck late in the innings, the visitors had already been boxed into a corner.
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Mani also highlighted the importance of patience, particularly on a surface that offered little for reckless attacking play. “On pitches like this, patience becomes very important,” she explained. “You cannot expect wickets straight away, but if you keep things tight and force batters to take risks, chances will come. As spinners, our job was to control the middle overs, mix up pace and make it difficult to score freely, and I think we did that really well today.”
RCB’s total of 109 was always going to be below par, but Delhi still had work to do with the bat. The chase did not begin smoothly, with early wickets threatening to inject a hint of tension. However, captain Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt brought exactly the kind of calm the situation required. Their 52-run partnership was built on rotation of strike, smart shot selection and an understanding of the conditions.
Wolvaardt, in particular, looked in complete control, finishing unbeaten on 42 and guiding the Capitals through the tricky middle phase of the chase. Rodrigues chipped in with a valuable 24, ensuring that Delhi never allowed RCB a way back into the contest. The target was eventually overhauled at 111 for 3, sealing a seven-wicket victory that reflected the gulf between the two sides on the day.
For Mani, the match also marked a personal step forward after a period of searching for rhythm earlier in the season. “In the earlier games, my execution was not where I wanted it to be, even though the effort was there,” she admitted. “I kept working on it in training and trusted what the coaches were telling me. Today, things clicked better at a crucial moment, and I am really happy that I could contribute when the team needed it.”
That sense of momentum is something Delhi Capitals are keen to build on. Having endured a mixed start to the campaign, back-to-back victories have not only lifted them up the table but also reinforced belief within the squad. Mani was clear that it is the way the team is learning and responding to different situations that gives her confidence.
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“Winning back-to-back matches definitely gives you confidence, but more importantly, it shows that we are learning as a group,” she said. “Even when we were under pressure in different phases of the game, we stayed calm and trusted our process. That is something we want to carry forward.”
With Gujarat Giants next up on January 27, Delhi Capitals will be eager to turn this mini-run into something more substantial. The combination of disciplined bowling, smart batting and growing self-belief suggests that they are peaking at the right time.
If Saturday’s performance was any indication, Delhi Capitals are no longer just surviving in the WPL 2026 race they are starting to look like a team that knows exactly how it wants to win.
