WPL 2026: RCB seal second crown with historic chase, Delhi’s final jinx continues

Delhi Capitals’ long wait for a Women’s Premier League title continued as heartbreak struck once again in the final.

Despite posting the highest total ever in a WPL final, Delhi slumped to their fourth consecutive title-match defeat, as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) produced a historic run chase to clinch their second WPL crown.

Delhi’s commanding 203/4 ultimately proved insufficient as RCB chased down the target in a record-breaking effort, led by a sublime partnership between captain Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll. The duo tore into the DC bowling attack to register the highest successful chase in WPL history, sealing the title with two balls to spare.

Mandhana, Voll script history

Mandhana (87 off 41) and Voll (79 off 54) put on a monumental 165-run stand for the second wicket off just 92 balls—the highest partnership in WPL history. Their relentless assault dismantled Delhi’s plans on the biggest stage and swung the final decisively in RCB’s favour.

With the win, RCB also became the first franchise to simultaneously hold both the IPL and WPL titles, underlining their growing dominance across formats. RCB’s chase began with a brief wobble when Chinelle Henry struck early to remove Grace Harris for 9, but the breakthrough proved fleeting. Mandhana and Voll quickly took control, blending elegance with power as boundaries flowed freely across the ground.

Mandhana brought up her fastest WPL fifty off just 23 balls, while Voll reached her half-century in 37 deliveries. The century partnership came up in just 58 balls, leaving Delhi scrambling for answers. During her knock, Mandhana also crossed 1,000 WPL runs, becoming only the fifth player to do so, and finished the season as the leading run-scorer with 377 runs, overtaking Harmanpreet Kaur.

Late drama, but RCB hold nerve

Just when the chase appeared routine, Delhi staged a late fightback, striking three times in quick succession to remove Voll, Richa Ghosh and Mandhana. With 13 needed off the final eight balls, tension surged inside the stadium.

Henry (2/34) delivered a crucial blow by castling Mandhana in the penultimate over, and Delhi were handed another lifeline when Radha Yadav miscued a lofted shot in the final over. However, a dropped catch by Minnu Mani proved costly. Radha capitalised, striking back-to-back boundaries off Shree Charani to take RCB over the line, sealing a famous victory and condemning Delhi to yet another painful final defeat.

DC’s record total goes in vain

Earlier, Delhi made full use of favourable batting conditions after being sent in. Lizelle Lee (37 off 30) and Shafali Verma (20 off 13) added 49 for the opening wicket before skipper Jemimah Rodrigues took charge. Rodrigues played a captain’s knock, scoring 57 off 37 balls, and added 76 runs for the third wicket with Laura Wolvaardt. After her dismissal, Chinelle Henry provided the finishing fireworks.

Henry’s unbeaten 35 off 15 balls, including a brutal penultimate over in which she smashed five consecutive boundaries, combined with Wolvaardt’s composed 44 off 25, powered Delhi to 203/4—a total that gave them hope, but not the trophy. On a night of shattered records and soaring drama, RCB stood tall under pressure, while Delhi were left once again to rue what might have been—so close, yet still waiting for their elusive WPL title.