Royal Challengers Bengaluru eye second WPL crown, DC chase maiden title
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Smriti Mandhana, face Jemimah Rodrigues’ Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League final in Vadodara. RCB seek a second crown, while DC aim to break their jinx after three runner-up finishes
Vadodara: Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Smriti Mandhana will have the opportunity to lead her side to parity with Mumbai Indians in terms of success in the Women’s Premier League, while Delhi Capitals will look to break their final jinx when the tournament’s two most entertaining sides clash in the summit here on Thursday.
Former champions RCB have enjoyed a dream run this season, repeatedly showing the ability to step up and bounce back when the chips are down. That resilience helped them create history by beginning their campaign with five consecutive wins, becoming the first WPL team to do so.
Grace Harris’ blazing 75 against UP Warriorz set the tone for an emphatic eight-wicket win, while Gautami Naik’s 73 against Gujarat Giants proved pivotal in a commanding 61-run victory. Although RCB batters — including Mandhana, Harris, Georgia Voll and Richa Ghosh — have lacked consistency, timely contributions have proved decisive. Pace bowlers Nadine de Klerk and Sayali Satghare have delivered when it mattered most.
South African Nadine de Klerk is currently the third-highest wicket-taker this season with 15 scalps from eight matches, including a best of 4 for 22. Shreyanka Patil adds spin strength, highlighted by her five-wicket haul against Gujarat Giants.
The Capitals, under new skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, are eager for a maiden title after finishing runners-up in all three previous editions. Their bowling has been formidable, with Chinelle Henry and Nandani Sharma striking early. Nandani, with 16 wickets this season, has been the standout performer.
On the batting front, Lizelle Lee contributed in the Eliminator against Gujarat Giants, while Shafali Verma returned to form with a half-century stand. Laura Wolvaardt has provided stability throughout the season.
With both batting and bowling heavily influenced by South African players, Delhi Capitals have benefited from a tight-knit core that has played together for years, fostering resilience in high-pressure situations. Rodrigues, poised for a big innings, will look to guide her side to a first title.
Teams (from):
Delhi Capitals: Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Taniya Bhatia (wk), Lucy Hamilton, Chinelle Henry, Marizanne Kapp, Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Minnu Mani, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Shafali Verma, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Pragati Singh, Eddla Srujana, Laura Wolvaardt.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Smriti Mandhana (c), Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, Richa Ghosh (wk), Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Shreyanka Patil, Kumar Prathyoosha, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Linsey Smith, Pooja Vastrakar, Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav.
Match starts at 7:30 pm.
