the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 conclusion, called Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB women) defeated Delhi Capitals Women (DC‑Women) by a margin of 06 runs in the final played at Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Vadodara on February 05, 2026. The final was one of the most thrilling, high ‑ score WPL finals ever played in the history, where 204 runs were successfully chased, and is still the highest chased target in a WPL grand finale.
On the chase of a competitive target, vs RCB reached 204/4 in 19.4 overs to overtake DC’s score of 203/4 in 20 overs with two balls remaining. Captain Smriti Mandhana was named Player of the Match after a brutal 87 off 41 balls, while fellow batter Georgia Voll also chipped in with a handy 79 from Danielle Wyatt (52) and Georgie Redmayne (38).
This win was RCB’s second WPL title, confirming their standing in the league and proving yet again that pursuing under extreme pressure is something they dominate.
Delhi Capitals Women Innings — Setting the Target (203/4)
- Opting to bat first, DC Women got off to a solid start and managed to put up an imposing total of (203/4).
- Their innings was buttressed by crucial contributions from the openers:
- Jemimah Rodrigues top-scored for the DC with a power-packed 57 off 37 balls.
- Laura Wolvaardt chipped in with 44 not out off 25 balls, throwing caution to the wind at the back-end of the innings.
- Lizelle Lee chipped in with a 37 off 30 balls to keep South Africa ticking in the middle overs.
- These efforts saw DC’s course to 203 for 4 in the stipulated 20 overs, a total that appeared well above par in a final and presented RCB with an exciting chase.
- RCB’s bowling line-up saw contributions from their primary bowlers but none could regularly stem well‑timed DC batting. However, DC’s final total would ultimately fall just short of the mark required to clinch the title.
RCB Women Overhaul History Target
- The target of 204 runs was too tall a mountain to climb but RCB Women started the chase cautiously and steadily.
- The team lost the early advantage when Grace Harris fell for one in the chase which was just 9/1 — not a great start that could have potentially shifted the pressure back to DC. But the game-changing innings for RCB came when captain Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll compiled a stunning 165‑run partnership for the second wicket, the highest of any wicket in a WPL match (final or otherwise).
- Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41) struck a captain’s knock. Her innings was mixture of aggressive stroke‑play and shrewd game awareness, punctuated with boundaries that kept the required run rate at a manageable 6 even under pressure.
- Georgia Voll (79 off 54) supported Mandhana, making sure the bowlers from DC did not have it easy and a breakthrough came later than they would have liked. This partnership proved crucial to RCB success by the duo.
- As the game headed towards final overs, RCB suffered a mini‑collapse, losing three wickets in quick succession even as the target appeared within their reach. But the side, resolute, came back and Radha Yadav’s timely boundary‑hitting in the final over helped her side survive with two balls to spare.
Records and Highlights From the WPL 2026 Final
There were some notable records and historical markers that emerged from this final:
- Tallest Chase in WPL Final ∙ Highest Successful Run-Chase in WPL Final
- RCB’s chase of 204, too stands as the biggest target chased in a WPL final – a reflection of the batting depth and strategically calibrated risk‑taking by RCB’s line up.
- RCB Women Win Second WPL Title – It’s the second WPL title for RCB and further solidifies their place as one of the elite teams in short existence of the league.
- Delhi Capitals’ Fourth Final, Another Loss, DC Women, meanwhile lose their fourth straight WPL final, a difficult trend in championship games.
Standout Performances
Batting
Smriti Mandhana (RCB): 87 runs from 41 balls — Player of the Match and the centrepiece of the record chase.
Georgia Voll (RCB): 79 off 54 balls — role in record stand was vital.
Jemimah Rodrigues (DC): 57 runs off 37 balls — highest run-scorer for DC.
Laura Wolvaardt (DC): 44 not out off 25 balls — offered late impetus.
Bowling
Arundhati Reddy (RCB) – 40 runs – 1 Wicket – 4 Overs
Sayali Satghare (RCB) – 46 runs – 1 Wicket – 4 Overs
Chinelle Henry (DC) – 34 runs – 2 wickets – 4 Overs
Minnu Mani (DC)-19 runs – 1 wickets – 4 Overs
Tactical Insights and Match Flow
The choice to bowl first might have appeared strategic from RCB as they backed their bowlers to stifle DC’s robust batting line-up and allowed their own solid top order something substantial to chase. While DC’s tally was overwhelming, RCB’s batting depth and flexibility came to the fore in its chase.
The shift in momentum was brought about by Mandhana’s captaincy and shot selection, as she began to play with more freedom and power while gradually upping the scoring rate, which was complemented by Voll’s bullish approach that prevented DC bowlers from bossing around. Their alliance successfully eased the pressure of the rising run requirement.
DC’s bowlers toiled hard, Henry took two wickets and other bowlers bowled tight to at least trying restrict RCB, but the combination of Mandhana and Voll was too much.
Closing Thoughts
The WPL 2026 ins final produced high drama, records of historic significance and a brilliant match which went down to the wire for one of the best finishes in Women’s Premier League cricket. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women confirmed their status with a stunning maiden title, as Delhi Capitals had yet another near-miss in their quest for the first WPL title.
