WPL 2026 Finals - DC on the Hunt to Win their First, Smriti's RCB look to Grab a Brace

WPL 2026 Finals - DC on the Hunt to Win their First Title

Delhi Capitals after a slow start have gathered momentum and peaked at the right time. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (get your jerseys now) started with a bang - became the first team to qualify for the finals. The two teams have had contrasting journeys to the grand finale but the goal is common - TAKE HOME THE TITLE.

DC (get your jerseys now) have made it to the finals of all the WPL editions so far - finished second best every single time. The Smriti Mandhana led side are on hunt to grab a brace. The stakes are high, the quality of cricket has reached new heights this season and it all boils down the final 4 hours of the 2026 edition. Which skipper will lift the trophy aloft? Jemimah Rodrigues or Smriti Mandhana?

Delhi Capitals: The Quest for an Elusive Trophy

• Ending the Title Drought: This final marks the Delhi Capitals' fourth attempt at securing a major trophy. The franchise is chasing its first-ever title, having failed to secure silverware in three previous attempts.

• A Grueling Path to the Final: Unlike their opponents, DC "scraped through" a series of must-win games to reach this stage. They are entering the final having played three knockouts in just five days.

• Consistency with Limited Resources: DC has used only 13 players this season, the fewest resources used by any team across four WPL seasons.

• Jemimah Rodrigues’ Leadership: Captain Jemimah Rodrigues recently rediscovered her batting fluency by "letting go" of the pressure of perfection, a mindset she hopes will carry the team through the final.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Establishing a Dynasty

• A "Winning Habit": Having topped the group stage by winning six of their eight games, RCB is looking to make winning a habit - a habit to win titles. They are specifically attempting a hat-trick of wins when including their IPL titles.

• Leadership Stakes for Smriti Mandhana: A second WPL triumph for Mandhana could be a significant "stepping stone" toward her becoming the captain of the Indian national team following the T20 World Cup in June-July.

• Overcoming Key Absences: RCB reached the final despite being without star player Ellyse Perry. In her absence, Grace Harris has become the team's "powerplay enforcer," maintaining a tournament-high strike rate of 181.

• Freshness vs. Momentum: RCB enters the final after a six-day break, a sharp contrast to DC's packed knockout schedule.

Tactical Stakes

• The Opening Firepower: Both DC and RCB have some ridiculous ball-striking ability at the top of the order. Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris have dismissed attacks. The duo has scored 382 runs at 47.87 and they've scored these runs at an impressive run-rate - 10.3. Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma are not far behind. They garnered 361 runs at 40.11 while maintaining a strike-rate of 176.8.

• The Eliminator Trend: Historically, the winner of the Eliminator has gone on to win the WPL title in each of the three previous seasons. This favors the Delhi Capitals, who won the Eliminator to reach this final.

• Opening Stand Dominance: For DC, the form of Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee is critical; the team is 3-0 this season when the pair puts on a half-century stand. They will face a major threat in RCB’s Lauren Bell, who has bowled the most dot balls (116) this season.

• Chasing vs. Defending: All five of DC’s wins this season have come while chasing. However, the pitch in Vadodara is the same one used for the Eliminator, and while it has grass cover, a lack of recent dew may keep spinners in play longer.

WPL 2026 - Most Wickets and Most Runs

Highest run-getters

• Harmanpreet Kaur (MI) - 342

• Nat Sciver-Brunt (MI) - 321

• Smriti Mandhana (RCB) - 290

• Lizelle Lee (DC) - 283

• Laura Wolvaardt (DC) - 273

Smriti Mandhana is 52 runs away from the league leader and to win the WPL 2026 orange cap, the RCB skipper will need a sturdy knock. Can she come good against the Capitals? Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt are not far behind and both have all the ability in the world to step up when needed.

Most Wickets

• Sophie Devine (GG) - 17

• Nandani Sharma (DC) - 16

• Nadine de Klerk (RCB) - 15

• Amelia Kerr (MI) - 14

• Shree Charani (DC) - 14

• Lauren Bell (RCB) - 12

Nandani Sharma has been a revelation for the Capitals and while she has grabbed all the attention, Shree Charani has worked under the radar to get to 14 scalps. The race for the purple cap is intense and the finals only amplifies it.

Best Playing XIs

RCB: Smriti Mandhana (c), Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Arundhati Reddy/Prema Rawat, Lauren Bell.

DC: Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Nandni Sharma, N Shree Charani

Which side are you rooting for? Comment and tell us. Also tell us who you think will win the Orange and Purple caps.