Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and opted to bowl first against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final at Vadodara. The title clash promises a thrilling contest as RCB chase their second championship in three years, while DC aim to end their streak of losses in the last three finals.
RCB, led by Smriti Mandhana, topped the points table after an unbeaten run in the Navi Mumbai leg of the tournament. Delhi Capitals, captained by Jemimah Rodrigues, have found their best form in Vadodara, including a seven-wicket victory over RCB earlier in the season. Both teams head into the final with confidence, having kept their lineups unchanged for the decisive match.
At the toss, Mandhana explained her decision to bowl first: “It’s always good to know what you are going to chase. We are playing with the same XI as the last match. The past few days gave us time off, and we came back together to practice hard. There is excitement, nerves, and energy, but we just need to embrace it and focus on playing our best cricket.”
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DC captain Jemimah Rodrigues expressed that while losing the toss can be advantageous in big games, she would have preferred to bowl first. “We are keeping our plans simple. Playing the Eliminator here before gives us a good idea of conditions. Everyone is focused and ready,” she said.
Playing XIs:
RCB: Smriti Mandhana (capt), Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Sayali Satghare, Arundhati Reddy, Lauren Bell
DC: Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (capt), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Nandni Sharma, N Shree Charani
Fans in Vadodara are treated not just to high-stakes cricket but also to entertainment, as the closing ceremony gets underway. Malaika Arora performed briefly to the iconic song Chaiyya Chaiyya, followed by a solo performance by singer Talwiinder.
With both sides boasting star-studded lineups and a blend of experience and youth, the WPL 2026 final is shaping up to be a closely contested match. While RCB looks to cement their dominance in the league, DC aims to script a fairytale ending and claim the title after previous near misses. The excitement among fans and players alike promises a memorable night of women’s cricket in India.
Also Read: RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final Live Streaming and Predicted XI