WPL: Delhi Capitals Rout Gujarat Giants to Set Up Final Against RCB

Delhi Capitals Women (DC) stormed into the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 final following their commanding seven-wicket victory over Gujarat Giants Women in the Eliminator match held on February 3, 2026, at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, DC's bowlers delivered an impressive performance, restricting Gujarat Giants to 168 for 7 in their 20 overs. Beth Mooney played a pivotal anchor role with an unbeaten 62 off 51 balls, supported by Georgia Wareham's quick 35 and a late contribution from Kashvee Gautam, but early breakthroughs from Chinelle Henry (3/35) and Nandini Sharma's double strike in her first over—dismissing Anushka Sharma and Ashleigh Gardner for a duck—put Gujarat under severe pressure.

In response, DC chased down the target of 169 with ease in just 15.4 overs, losing only three wickets. Shafali Verma (31 off 21) and Lizelle Lee (43 off 24) provided a blistering 89-run opening stand, exploiting the powerplay restrictions with 15 boundaries and a six. Although Georgia Wareham struck back by dismissing both openers in the same over, Laura Wolvaardt (32 not out) and captain Jemimah Rodrigues (41) steadied the innings with composure before accelerating, and Marizanne Kapp sealed the win with the final boundary. This triumph marks DC's fourth consecutive appearance in the WPL final, showcasing their remarkable consistency despite not yet securing the title in previous editions.

They now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCB) in the final on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the same venue in Vadodara, starting at 7:30 PM IST. RCB, led by Smriti Mandhana, topped the league stage with six wins in eight matches and a strong net run rate, qualifying directly for the final as table-toppers and defending their 2024 title. This matchup is a repeat of the 2024 final, where RCB emerged victorious, adding extra motivation for DC to settle the score and claim their maiden championship.

Anticipation surrounding DC is high, with fans and analysts praising their big-match temperament, batting depth featuring international stars like Lee, Wolvaardt, and Kapp, and improved bowling variety under Jemimah Rodrigues' captaincy. After overcoming pressure in the Eliminator and posting a statement win, there's growing optimism that DC have peaked at the perfect moment and could finally break their finals drought.

As for RCB, they enter as strong favorites, having dominated much of the season with an unbeaten streak in key phases, explosive batting from players like Grace Harris, and a balanced attack including Shreyanka Patil. Many predictions lean toward RCB securing another title due to their superior form, depth, and psychological edge from past successes against DC. However, the final remains wide open, hinging on key battles such as DC's explosive openers versus RCB's pace and spin, and leadership clashes between Rodrigues and Mandhana. The Kotambi pitch, which has offered low bounce but allowed big death-overs scoring, will demand all-round execution, promising a thrilling, high-stakes showdown between DC's consistency and RCB's dominance.