Bengaluru Reigns Supreme: Mandhana’s Masterclass Secures Second WPL Title for RCB

VADODARA –Bengaluru Reigns Supreme: Mandhana’s Masterclass Secures Second WPL Title for RCB. The “Red and Gold” brigade has done it again! In a high-octane finale that lived up to every bit of its billing, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW) chased down a record-shattering target to defeat Delhi Capitals Women (DCW) by 6 wickets at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi.

While Delhi Capitals posted a formidable 203/4, the highest-ever total in a WPL Final, it wasn’t enough to stop a legendary charge led by Smriti Mandhana. With this win, RCB secures their second WPL trophy, while Delhi Capitals face the heartbreak of a fourth consecutive final defeat.

Match Scorecard: The Final Showdown

Result: RCB Women won by 6 wickets with 2 balls to spare.

The First Innings: Delhi’s Batting Blitzkrieg

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Delhi Capitals came out with a point to prove. The opening pair of Lizelle Lee (37 off 30) and Shafali Verma (20 off 13) provided a brisk start, but it was the middle-order explosion that truly took the game away from RCB’s bowlers.

• The Captain’s Charge: Jemimah Rodrigues played a scintillating knock, scoring 57 off 37 balls. Her ability to find gaps and manipulate the field kept the scoreboard ticking at over 10 runs per over.

• The Finishing Act: Laura Wolvaardt (44 off 25) and Chinelle Henry (35* off 15) turned the death overs into a nightmare for the RCB bowlers. Henry, in particular, was ruthless, smashing 24 runs off Nadine de Klerk’s 19th over to propel DC past the 200-mark.

Key Bowling Stats (RCB):

• Nadine de Klerk: 1/48 (4 overs)

• Sayali Satghare: 1/27 (3 overs)

• Arundhati Reddy: 1/40 (4 overs)

The Chase: Mandhana and Voll’s Record-Breaking Stand

Chasing 204 in a final is a Herculean task, and it became even more daunting when Grace Harris fell for just 1 in the second over to a beauty from Chinelle Henry. However, what followed was a batting partnership for the history books.

The 165-Run Miracle

Skipper Smriti Mandhana and young sensation Georgia Voll put on a 165-run partnership, the highest for any wicket in WPL history.

• Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41): The captain was in “God Mode,” reaching her fifty in just 23 balls—the fastest-ever half-century in a WPL Final. She smashed 12 fours and 3 sixes, silencing the critics and anchoring the chase with pure elegance.

• Georgia Voll (79 off 54): Playing the perfect foil, Voll was aggressive yet calculated, hitting 14 boundaries to keep the pressure firmly on the Delhi bowlers.

The Final Over Drama

Despite the massive partnership, Delhi fought back late. Minnu Mani dismissed Voll, and Chinelle Henry cleaned up Mandhana in the 19th over, leaving RCB needing 10 runs off the final 6 balls.

Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav kept their cool against the off-spin of Sree Charani. Radha sealed the title in style, hitting two consecutive boundaries to spark wild celebrations in the RCB dugout.

Player-to-Player Performance Analysis

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (The Champions)

1. Smriti Mandhana (87): A true leader’s innings. She didn’t just score runs; she dictated the tempo of the entire match.

2. Georgia Voll (79): Proved she belongs on the big stage. Her fearless hitting in the middle overs was the difference-maker.

3. Chinelle Henry (DC Bowler/Batter): Though on the losing side, she was the MVP for DC, scoring 35* and taking 2 crucial wickets (Harris and Mandhana).

4. Richa Ghosh: Though she only scored 2, her keeping and strategic inputs to the bowlers under pressure were vital.

Delhi Capitals (The Runners-Up)

1. Jemimah Rodrigues (57): Did everything right with the bat, but was left searching for answers as a captain when Mandhana started her onslaught.

2. Laura Wolvaardt (44): Her quickfire knock gave DC the cushion they needed, but the bowling unit couldn’t defend it.

3. Nandani Sharma: A tough night for the Purple Cap contender, as she conceded 41 runs in her 4 overs.

Part 1: Delhi Capitals Women (DCW) – Batting

DCW posted a massive 203/4 in 20 overs.

Part 2: RCB Women (RCBW) – Bowling

Despite the high score, RCB’s bowlers managed key breakthroughs late in the innings.

Part 3: RCB Women (RCBW) – Batting

RCB chased 204/4 in 19.4 overs, fueled by a 165-run second-wicket partnership.

Part 4: Delhi Capitals Women (DCW) – Bowling

DC bowlers were under immense pressure as Mandhana and Voll took the game deep.

Post-Match Reactions

“I have no words. This team has shown so much character. To chase 204 in a final is special. This one is for the fans who never gave up on us,” said a teary-eyed Smriti Mandhana during the trophy presentation.

Jemimah Rodrigues was graceful in defeat: “We thought 203 was enough, but you have to credit Smriti and Georgia. They took the game away from us. We’ll come back stronger.”

WPL 2026 Awards

• Orange Cap: Smriti Mandhana (RCB)

• Purple Cap: Sophie Devine (GGW)

• Player of the Match (Final): Smriti Mandhana (87 runs)

• Emerging Player: Georgia Voll (RCB)