Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women stamped their authority on the Women’s Premier League 2026 with a clinical six-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in Vadodara — and in the process made tournament history. RCB became the first side to lift the WPL trophy after finishing the league stage at the top of the table, a fitting crown for a team that dominated the season from start to finish.
The final was a run-fest that showcased why the women’s game continues to scale new heights. Delhi Capitals posted a challenging 203 for four after being put in, powered by a brilliant 57 from captain Jemimah Rodrigues and a fireworks finish from Chinelle Henry, who blazed 35 off 15 balls to push the total past 200. On any day that would be a match-winning total, but RCB’s chase was defined by intent, clarity and two batters who refused to let the occasion overwhelm them.
Smriti Mandhana led from the front. The RCB skipper produced a breathtaking 87 off 41 deliveries, pacing her innings perfectly while keeping the scoreboard ticking. Her second-wicket stand with Georgia Voll was the backbone of the chase — a 165-run partnership that dismantled the DC attack and left the rest of the batting order the luxury of finishing touches.
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Voll’s composed 79 off 54 complemented Mandhana’s aggression and made the title run inevitable; RCB sealed the chase with two balls to spare. Former India wicketkeeper-batter and RCB men’s batting coach Dinesh Karthik was effusive in his praise, highlighting Mandhana’s leadership and character.
“What a win in the final — absolutely sensational from the RCB girls. Smriti Mandhana, hats off to you,” Dinesh Karthik said on Instagram. He singled out Mandhana’s resilience, especially given recent personal setbacks, and applauded the clarity and calm she brought to a high-pressure chase. “You stuck to your guns, played like a true champion, and once again proved why you are a born leader,” he added.
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Dinesh Karthik also noted the broader significance of the final for women’s cricket. “This final also showed how far the women’s game has come. A 203 total from Delhi, powered by a superbly paced knock from Jemimah Rodrigues, followed by a wholehearted bowling effort — it was high-quality cricket throughout. But on the day, RCB were simply better,” he observed, giving credit to the coaching staff for their planning and auction strategy.
Virat Kohli, an RCB men’s team star, also extended his congratulations, celebrating a title that underlines the franchise’s depth across formats. The win is a timely validation of the work done behind the scenes — from the auction to the training ground — and it cements RCB as the benchmark franchise in the WPL era.
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For Delhi, the wound of a fourth successive runners-up finish will sting, but there were plenty of positives: Rodrigues’ fighting 57 and Henry’s late blitz showed the depth and intent in the side. For RCB, this triumph is as much about building a culture as it is about trophies — leadership, planning and execution combined to deliver a memorable title and another landmark moment for women’s cricket in India.
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