The Women’s Premier League 2026 reaches its grand finale as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Delhi Capitals. This title clash happens on February 5 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. RCB and DC already met in the 2024 WPL final; this is the 2nd time they will clash.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru come in as the top-ranked team of the season. They finished the league stage with 12 points and topped the table. Smriti Mandhana leads a squad that has looked sharp throughout the tournament. Their direct entry into the final gave them extra rest, which could prove helpful.
Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, took the longer route. They beat Gujarat Giants by seven wickets in the Eliminator to reach their fourth straight WPL final. Jemimah Rodrigues and her team have shown great fighting spirit this season. However, they have lost all three previous finals, making this a must-win situation for them.
Match Details: RCB vs DC
Here are the Key Details of RCB vs DC
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals, Final |
| Series | Women’s Premier League 2026 |
| Date | February 5, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | BCA Stadium, Vadodara |
| Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Broadcast | Star Sports |
Head-to-Head Record: RCB vs DC
| Statistic | RCB | DC |
|---|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 9 | 9 |
| Wins | 3 | 6 |
Performance In Last 1 Year
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RCB | 16 | 9 | 7 | 56.25% |
| DC | 18 | 10 | 8 | 55.56% |
Top Performers In The Last Year
Here is the info about the top Performers:
Batters:
- Smriti Mandhana (RCB): 487 Runs
- Shafali Verma (DC): 543 Runs
Bowlers:
- Nadine De Klerk (RCB): 15 Wickets
- Marizanne Kapp (DC): 18 Wickets
Pitch Report – BCA Stadium Vadodara
Here is the pitch report that tells us the quality of the pitch:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pitch Character | Slow and slightly tricky. The surface helps both spinners and pacers with the new ball. Batters need to spend time before accelerating. |
| Early Advantage | Pacers. The new ball moves around, creating early chances, making powerplay bowling crucial. |
| Mid-Game Shift | Spinners. As the pitch wears down, spinners get more grip and turn, making run-scoring difficult. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 150-160 runs |
| Boundary Dimensions | Standard. The ground has decent boundaries that reward good stroke play. |
| Toss Strategy | Bat first. Teams setting a target have had the upper hand at this venue in WPL 2026. Chasing has been difficult on this slow surface. |
Probable Playing XI
Here are the probable playing 11 of both teams:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Smriti Mandhana (C), Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Dayalan Hemalatha, Shreyanka Patil, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (WK), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Sneh Rana, Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma
Team Analysis
Here is some key information about both teams:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
The defending champions enter this final as favorites after a stellar league stage. Smriti Mandhana has led from the front, scoring 290 runs in eight innings. Her elegant left-handed batting has set the tone for RCB throughout this tournament.
Lauren Bell has been a revelation with the ball. The England pacer has taken 12 wickets at an incredible economy rate of 5.63. She has bowled 116 dot balls this season, the most by any bowler. Her ability to swing the new ball has troubled even the best openers.
The middle order has Richa Ghosh, who can change games in a matter of overs. Nadine de Klerk brings balance with her all-around skills. She grabbed 4/26 in the season opener and has chipped in with crucial runs down the order.
Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav form a potent spin duo. Patil took 5/23 against Gujarat Giants earlier in the season, showing her match-winning ability. RCB’s biggest strength is their bowling depth, which has helped them consistently defend totals.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals have reached their fourth straight WPL final, but they carry the burden of losing all three previous title clashes. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues knows this is a golden chance to break that jinx.
Nandani Sharma has emerged as the breakout star of this season. The young pacer has 16 wickets, the most by an Indian bowler in a single WPL edition. She took a hat-trick against Gujarat Giants and also grabbed a five-wicket haul in the same game. Her death bowling has saved DC multiple times.
The batting relies heavily on the top order. Laura Wolvaardt has scored 241 runs and provides stability at number three. Lizelle Lee and Shafali Verma form an explosive opening pair. They smashed 89 runs together in the Eliminator and can take any bowling attack apart.
Marizanne Kapp brings experience and skill with both bat and ball. She has 10 wickets this season and proved crucial in powerplay bowling. DC’s challenge will be handling pressure moments better than they have in previous finals.
Key Players to Watch
Here are the best players to watch out for in battle:
Best Batter: Smriti Mandhana (RCB)
The RCB captain has been the heartbeat of her team this season. With 290 runs from eight games, she sits second on the Orange Cap list. Mandhana narrowly missed a century against the Delhi Capitals earlier, scoring a brilliant 96 off 61 balls. She combines grace with power and loves big occasions. Her ability to pace an innings makes her invaluable, whether RCB bat first or chase.
Best Bowler: Nandani Sharma (DC)
The 20-year-old has announced herself on the biggest stage this WPL. Her 16 wickets have come at crucial moments for Delhi Capitals. She became the first uncapped Indian to take a hat-trick in WPL history. Her ability to bowl yorkers at the death gives DC a genuine wicket-taking option. Against RCB’s strong batting lineup, her pace and accuracy will be tested to the limit.
Match Prediction
Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold the edge going into this final. They finished top of the table, had extra rest, and possess a well-balanced squad. But DC also had their best Plans in their mind, and they know they have to win this title because it’s their 4th final.
Winner Prediction: Delhi Capitals (DC)
Delhi Capitals have experience reaching the final but carry the mental baggage of three consecutive losses in title clashes. Their batting depends too much on the top order. Once Wolvaardt, Lee, or Shafali fail, the middle order often struggles to build big totals.
The pitch at Vadodara has helped teams batting first. If RCB win the toss and post 160 or more, their bowling should be good enough to defend it. DC will need their openers to fire and hope Nandani Sharma produces magic with the ball.
Suggested Read:
Conclusion – RCB & DC Meet 2nd Time In WPL Final
The RCB vs DC WPL 2026 final brings together two deserving teams for the ultimate battle. You have the table-toppers against the serial finalists, quality batters against skilled bowlers, and experience against hunger.
Vadodara will witness something special on February 5. Whether it is Mandhana lifting another trophy or Jemimah finally breaking the jinx, this match will be remembered for years. The journey to this point has been thrilling, and the finale promises to match that excitement. Every cricket fan should tune in for what promises to be a fitting end to an incredible WPL season.
