The cricketing world descended upon Vadodara on Thursday, as the grand finale of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 unfolded between Delhi Capitals (DC) Women and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women. In a high-stakes encounter where nerves often dictate the play, the Capitals produced a batting masterclass to post a daunting 203/4 in their 20 overs. While the collective effort was clinical, the spotlight shone brightest on DC skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a captain’s knock that secured her place in the WPL history books alongside Indian teammate Harmanpreet Kaur.
WPL 2026 final: Jemimah Rodrigues enters exclusive club alongside Harmanpreet Kaur with her fierce knock
Rodrigues delivered a performance for the ages, striking a fierce 57 off just 37 balls. Beyond providing the backbone for the Capitals’ innings, this knock saw her enter an exclusive statistical club. Rodrigues has now become one of the few players to score a half-century in a WPL final, joining the likes of Harmanpreet and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The list of 50-plus scores in WPL finals is a short and prestigious one:
- Harmanpreet Kaur (66 off 44) vs DC, 2025
- Nat Sciver-Brunt (60 off 55) vs DC, 2023
- Jemimah Rodrigues (57 off 37) vs RCB, 2026
Rodrigues’ innings was characterized by precision and intent. Reaching her fifty in just 32 deliveries, she pierced the gaps with surgical accuracy, hitting eight boundaries. By the time she was dismissed by Sayali Satghare in the 16th over, she had already shifted the momentum decisively in Delhi’s favour, proving once again why she is considered one of the most reliable big-match players in the format.
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Delhi Capitals dominate in as RCB struggles to contain the onslaught in WPL 2026 Final
After RCB captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field, the Capitals openers set the tone immediately. Lizelle Lee (37) and the explosive Shafali Verma (20) raced to a 49-run opening stand within the first six overs. Despite losing Verma in the final ball of the powerplay, the Capitals never let the run rate dip.
The middle overs belonged to the partnership between Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt. Wolvaardt played a selfless role, accumulating 44 off 25 balls, including a flurry of boundaries that kept the RCB bowlers under constant pressure. The pair added 76 runs for the third wicket, taking the score from a steady 72/2 to a commanding 148/3.
The real fireworks, however, were reserved for the death overs. Following Rodrigues’ departure, Chinelle Henry unleashed a brutal assault on the Bengaluru attack. Henry remained unbeaten on 35 off a mere 15 balls, striking at an incredible rate of 233.33. Her cameo, supported by Wolvaardt’s late-inning acceleration, saw DC plunder 63 runs in the final five overs.
For RCB, the bowling figures made for tough reading. While Lauren Bell remained disciplined (0/19 in 4 overs), others faced the brunt of the DC bats. Satghare and Nadine de Klerk picked up wickets but conceded 46 and 48 runs respectively. With a win probability of 78.22% at the innings break, Delhi Capitals head into the second half with all the momentum, leaving RCB with a mountain of 204 to climb in their pursuit of the title.
Also READ: WPL 2026: RCB’s road to the final under Smriti Mandhana
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
