Written By: Shreya Patil
Published: January 23, 2026

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has delivered some of the most thrilling matches since its launch in 2023. The tournament features five teams battling for supremacy, and close finishes have become a signature of this exciting competition. 

UPW and DC-W have the smallest victory margins by just 1 Run. These nail-biting contests showcase the competitive nature of women’s cricket in India and keep fans on the edge of their seats.

This article looks at the top ten smallest victory margins by runs in WPL history. These matches produced incredible drama, stunning collapses, and heroic performances under pressure. Each game tells a unique story of grit, determination, and the fine line between victory and defeat.

Top 10 Smallest Victory Margins By Runs In WPL

RankWinnerMarginOppositionGroundDate
1UPW Women1 runv DC WomenDelhi8 Mar 2024
2DC Women1 runv RCB WomenDelhi10 Mar 2024
3RCB Women2 runsv UPW WomenBengaluru24 Feb 2024
4GG Women4 runsv DC WomenDY Patil11 Jan 2026
5RCB Women5 runsv MI WomenDelhi15 Mar 2024
6GG Women8 runsv UPW WomenDelhi11 Mar 2024
7MI Women8 runsv DC WomenBrabourne15 Mar 2025
8MI Women9 runsv GG WomenBrabourne10 Mar 2025
9GG Women10 runsv UPW WomenDY Patil10 Jan 2026
10GG Women11 runsv RCB WomenBrabourne8 Mar 2023

1. UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals (1 Run) – 8 March 2024

UP Warriorz pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in WPL history at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. They posted just 138 runs while batting first, with captain Deepti Sharma scoring 59 runs. Delhi Capitals seemed to cruise toward victory when they needed only 15 runs from the last 12 balls with six wickets in hand.

UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals (1 Run) – 8 March 2024
Source: Mid-day

Then Deepti Sharma changed everything. She took a sensational hat-trick in the 19th over, claiming Annabel Sutherland, Arundhati Reddy, and Shikha Pandey. Delhi collapsed from 124/4 to 137 all out in just 12 balls. Deepti finished with figures of 4/19 and earned the Player of the Match award for her all-round brilliance. This win kept UP Warriorz alive in the playoff race and proved that no game is over until the last ball.

2. Delhi Capitals vs RCB Women (1 Run) – 10 March 2024

Just two days after UP Warriorz’s thriller, another one-run finish gripped the same venue. Delhi Capitals set a challenging target of 182 after Jemimah Rodrigues smashed 58 off 36 balls. RCB’s chase looked promising with Ellyse Perry scoring 49 and Richa Ghosh hitting a quick-fire 51.

Delhi Capitals vs RCB Women (1 Run) – 10 March 2024
Source: espncricinfo

RCB needed just two runs off the final ball to force a Super Over. Richa Ghosh stood at the crease with the hopes of the Bangalore fans resting on her shoulders. However, she could manage only a single, leaving RCB heartbroken by a single run. Delhi secured their playoff spot with this nerve-wracking victory, while RCB had to regroup quickly for the remaining matches.

3. RCB Women vs UP Warriorz (2 Runs) – 24 February 2024

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed a spectacular finish in this early-season clash. RCB posted 157 runs, powered by Richa Ghosh’s explosive 62 off 37 balls. UP Warriorz were cruising in their chase when Grace Harris (38 off 23) and Shweta Sehrawat (31) took control.

RCB Women vs UP Warriorz (2 Runs) – 24 February 2024
Source: espncricinfo

Enter Asha Sobhana. The uncapped leg-spinner produced magic when RCB needed it most. She took three wickets in one over, dismissing Sehrawat, Harris, and Kiran Navgire in quick succession. Her five-wicket haul turned the game completely around. UP Warriorz needed just 11 runs from the last nine balls but fell short by two runs. Sobhana’s spell earned her the Player of the Match award and announced her arrival on the big stage.

4. Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals (4 Runs) – 11 January 2026

Sophie Devine delivered one of the greatest all-round performances in WPL history at the DY Patil Stadium. She smashed 95 off just 42 balls, hitting seven fours and eight sixes. Her innings included a record-breaking over against Sneh Rana, scoring 32 runs, the most expensive over in WPL history. Gujarat Giants posted a mammoth 209 runs.

Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals (4 Runs) – 11 January 2026
Source: Deccan Herald

Delhi fought back brilliantly through Lizelle Lee (86) and Laura Wolvaardt (77). They needed just seven runs from the final over with Wolvaardt still at the crease. Devine was given the ball for the crucial last over. She kept her cool and dismissed both Jemimah Rodrigues and Wolvaardt to seal an incredible four-run victory. Nandani Sharma’s five-wicket haul (including a hat-trick) for Delhi went in vain as Gujarat pulled off an unlikely win.

5. RCB Women vs Mumbai Indians (5 Runs) – 15 March 2024 (Eliminator)

The WPL 2024 Eliminator at the Arun Jaitley Stadium produced high drama. RCB managed just 135 runs after slipping to 49/4, with Ellyse Perry’s brilliant 66 off 50 balls saving them from total collapse. Mumbai Indians, the defending champions, looked set to coast home.

RCB Women vs Mumbai Indians (5 Runs) – 15 March 2024 (Eliminator)
Source: Business Standard

Mumbai needed just 20 runs from the last three overs with seven wickets in hand. Then RCB’s spinners took over. Shreyanka Patil dismissed the dangerous Harmanpreet Kaur, while Sophie Molineux and Asha Sobhana kept the pressure high. Sobhana defended 12 runs in the final over, conceding just six and picking up a wicket. RCB won by five runs and reached the WPL final for the first time, ending Mumbai’s title defense in heartbreaking fashion.

6. Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz (8 Runs) – 11 March 2024

Gujarat Giants defended 152 runs against UP Warriorz at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. This match held significant playoff implications for both teams. The Giants’ bowlers executed their plans well in the death overs, restricting UP Warriorz to 144 runs.

Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz (8 Runs) – 11 March 2024
Source: espncricinfo

UP Warriorz needed consistent partnerships but lost wickets at crucial moments. The Gujarat spinners kept things tight in the middle overs, building pressure that eventually told. The eight-run margin may not seem as dramatic as the one-run thrillers, but it was a tense finish that kept both dugouts on edge until the final over.

7. Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals (8 Runs) – 15 March 2025 (Final)

The WPL 2025 final at the Brabourne Stadium saw Mumbai Indians claim their second title. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur rose to the occasion with a brilliant 66 off 44 balls after Mumbai slumped to 14/2 early. Together with Nat Sciver-Brunt (30), she rescued her team and helped them post 149 runs.

Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals (8 Runs) – 15 March 2025 (Final)
Source: News 18

Delhi Capitals’ chase suffered early blows when Sciver-Brunt dismissed Meg Lanning, and Shabnim Ismail trapped Shafali Verma. Though Marizanne Kapp (40) and Niki Prasad (25) gave Delhi hope with a late partnership, Sciver-Brunt returned to close out the innings. Mumbai won by eight runs, consigning Delhi to their third consecutive final defeat. Harmanpreet Kaur earned the Player of the Match award for her match-winning knock.

8. Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants (9 Runs) – 10 March 2025

Mumbai Indians showcased their championship mettle at the Brabourne Stadium in this crucial league-stage match. Chasing 180 runs, Gujarat Giants gave it their all but fell nine runs short. Mumbai’s bowling unit worked cohesively, picking wickets at regular intervals.

Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants (9 Runs) – 10 March 2025
Source: CricTracker

The match highlighted Mumbai’s ability to defend totals under pressure, a skill they would display again in the final just five days later. Gujarat’s batters struggled to accelerate in the death overs as Mumbai’s bowlers consistently hit their lengths. This victory boosted Mumbai’s confidence heading into the playoffs.

9. Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz (10 Runs) – 10 January 2026

The opening match of the 2026 season’s DY Patil leg saw Gujarat Giants successfully defend 207 runs. This was their second close win of the tournament after beating Delhi Capitals by four runs a day later. Captain Ashleigh Gardner led her bowling attack well, restricting UP Warriorz.

Gujarat Giants vs UP Warriorz (10 Runs) – 10 January 2026
Source: Outlook India

UP Warriorz made a serious attempt at the chase but could only manage 197 runs. The ten-run margin came down to Gujarat’s excellent death bowling and some smart field placements. This victory set the tone for Gujarat’s strong start to the 2026 season.

10. Gujarat Giants vs RCB Women (11 Runs) – 8 March 2023

The inaugural WPL season featured this thrilling contest at the Brabourne Stadium. Gujarat Giants posted 201 runs thanks to brilliant half-centuries from Sophia Dunkley (65) and Harleen Deol (67). RCB needed to chase down their highest target of the tournament.

Gujarat Giants vs RCB Women (11 Runs) – 8 March 2023

Sophie Devine (66 off 45 balls) and Heather Knight (30 not out off 11 balls) gave RCB hope with aggressive batting. However, Ashleigh Gardner’s clever off-spin (3/31) kept Gujarat ahead. RCB needed 24 runs off the final over but could only manage 12. This victory gave Gujarat their first points of the season and showed that even high-scoring matches could produce close finishes.

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Conclusion – UPW Has The Smallest Victory Margin By 1 Run Against DC-W!

These ten matches prove why the Women’s Premier League has captured the imagination of cricket fans worldwide. The smallest victory margins show that every ball matters and that momentum can shift in an instant. From Deepti Sharma’s incredible hat-trick to Sophie Devine’s all-round heroics, these games have produced memorable individual performances under extreme pressure.

The WPL continues to grow in popularity, and close finishes like these add to its appeal. Teams have learned that no target is safe and no chase is impossible. As the tournament evolves, fans can expect more nail-biting contests that go down to the wire. These matches remind us why cricket is often called a game of glorious uncertainties.

About the Author

Shreya Patil is a Mumbai-based documentary photographer turned cricket storyteller. Having covered local leagues through her lens, she now writes feature pieces at WPLeague, capturing the human side of women’s cricket beyond the boundary ropes.

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