Mumbai: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 will crown its champion on Thursday as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Delhi Capitals (DC) face off in a much-anticipated final. The summit clash promises high drama, with RCB aiming to lift their second title under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, while Delhi Capitals look to end their long wait for silverware after losing three previous finals.
The final presents a compelling narrative—either WPL will see a new champion, or history will be equalled. Adding emotional weight to the contest is the face-off between close friends Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, captaining their respective sides on the biggest stage of the season.
RCB’s journey this season has been nothing short of remarkable. The Bengaluru side created history by winning five consecutive matches, showcasing resilience and an ability to bounce back under pressure. Australia’s Grace Harris rediscovered form with a blistering 75 against UP Warriorz, while Gautami Naik’s 73 against Gujarat Giants laid the foundation for a commanding 61-run victory.
Though RCB’s batting unit—featuring Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Georgia Voll, and Harris—has shown occasional inconsistency, timely contributions have kept the team steady. In bowling, Nadine de Klerk and Sayali Satghare have delivered crucial breakthroughs. De Klerk stands third on the wicket-takers’ list with 15 wickets in eight matches, while Shreyanka Patil’s five-wicket haul against Gujarat underlined RCB’s depth.
For Delhi Capitals, the final represents a do-or-die moment. Under new captain Jemimah Rodrigues, DC are determined to finally cross the finish line. Their bowling attack has been led by Chinelle Henry and Nandini Sharma, who have been lethal with the new ball. Nandini, with 16 wickets, is the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker and a strong contender for national selection.
In batting, Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma played a vital partnership in the Eliminator, while Laura Wolvaardt has been the backbone of Delhi’s batting throughout the season. A strong South African core and impressive team cohesion have helped DC remain composed in high-pressure situations.
As the final approaches, all eyes will be on whether Mandhana’s well-balanced RCB can script history once again, or if Jemimah’s Delhi Capitals can finally break their final-match jinx and lift the WPL trophy for the first time.
Probable Squads
Delhi Capitals:
Jemimah Rodrigues (Captain), Taniya Bhatia (Wicketkeeper), Lucy Hamilton, Chinelle Henry, Marizanne Kapp, Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Minnu Mani, Nikki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Shafali Verma, Nandini Sharma, Shri Charani, Pragati Singh, Adla Srujana, Laura Wolvaardt.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper), Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Shreyanka Patil, Kumari Pratyusha, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Linsey Smith, Pooja Vastrakar, Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav.
