Opening the innings, Mandhana smashed 87 off 41 deliveries, obliterating the previous WPL final record of 66 set by Harmanpreet Kaur in 2025. Georgia Wareham’s 79 not out formed the backbone of a historic 165-run alliance for the second wicket, now the gold standard in WPL partnerships and women’s T20 finals alike. This stand didn’t just break records; it demolished them, becoming the first 100-plus partnership in a WPL decider.

Her 23-ball fifty was the quickest in WPL playoffs and her personal best in the league. Tournament-wise, Mandhana’s 377 runs from nine outings, with an average over 53 and strike rate exceeding 153, earned her the Orange Cap – the second-highest seasonal tally ever. Milestones kept coming: 1,000 WPL runs (fifth player to do so) and RCB’s all-time leading scorer.

Mandhana now boasts involvement in six century partnerships in WPL, a unique record. This victory cements RCB’s status as a powerhouse, with Mandhana’s consistency and flair at the forefront. The future looks bright for women’s T20 as icons like her continue to inspire.

The win sparked a wave of congratulations from Tinseltown. Anushka Sharma, closely linked to RCB through her husband Virat Kohli, shared her joy on Instagram: ‘RCB Women repeated the magic, history in the making once more.’ Her endorsement amplified the team’s achievement across social media.

Rishab Shetty, the Kantara sensation, also chimed in, congratulating the ‘queens in red’ for their stellar performance. Such celebrity backing underscores the growing appeal of women’s cricket leagues.

RCB’s triumph isn’t just about the trophy—it’s a testament to their evolving prowess. Mandhana’s captaincy steadied nerves in pressure moments, complemented by Wareham’s fiery innings. Delhi Capitals, reaching yet another final, faltered again, extending their trophyless streak to four finals.

This victory boosts RCB’s brand and inspires young athletes. With stars like Anushka and Rishab cheering, the WPL’s stardom grows, promising more high-stakes drama ahead.

Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Wareham’s fireworks lit up the New Delhi stadium. This victory is RCB’s second WPL title, making them pioneers with dual IPL-WPL honors in the same calendar year.

The chase was monumental – the largest in WPL history and the second-highest in women’s T20 cricket, behind only West Indies’ 213 against Australia in 2023. It also broke RCB’s own 202-run chase from last season’s final against Gujarat Giants.

Delhi Capitals’ agony deepened with their fourth final loss, a unwanted record shared now with Brisbane Heat. Despite a competitive total of 204, their bowlers couldn’t contain RCB’s momentum.

This match redefined finals in franchise T20s, being the first where over 175 runs were chased successfully in a women’s final, domestic or international.

Post-match, celebrations underscored RCB’s journey from underdogs to champions. The win boosts their morale ahead of international commitments, promising more glory.

Captain Ashley Gardner’s decision to bat first paid dividends as Giants reached 167/4. Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine laid the foundation with 21 runs. Post Mooney’s early exit at 5, Devine and Anushka Sharma rebuilt with 48 runs. Anushka’s aggressive 33 (1×6, 4×4) set the tone, complemented by Devine’s 25 off 21.

The acceleration phase belonged to Gardner and Georgia Wareham. Their explosive 71 off 43 balls lifted Giants to 142 before Gardner’s departure. Gardner’s 46 (28 balls, 8 boundaries) was explosive, while Wareham’s unbeaten 44 (26 balls, 2×6, 4×4) sealed a challenging total. Amelia Kerr’s 2/?? was Mumbai’s best effort.

Mumbai’s chase unraveled quickly. After Sajana Sajeevan and Hayley Matthews added 23, three quick wickets left them reeling at 37. Harmanpreet Kaur’s counter-attack began with Amelia Kerr (20 off 16) for 45 runs. Then, with Amanjot Kaur (13 off 12), she added 44 more, reaching 126.

Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 82 (48 balls, 4×6, 8×4) was a spectacle, but Giants’ bowlers held firm. Devine and Wareham’s 2 wickets each, plus singles from Gautam, Gayakwad, and Gardner, restricted MI to 156/7. Giants’ balanced performance highlights their Eliminator readiness.

The innings kicked off steadily with Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine laying a 21-run platform before Mooney’s early exit for 5. Anushka Sharma then took charge, scoring a brisk 33 with four fours and a six alongside Devine’s 25, which included three boundaries.

Post the 10-over mark, Gardner arrived and transformed the game. Her 46 off 28 balls was a boundary bonanza—seven fours and a towering six—while Wareham’s unbeaten 44 off 26 deliveries featured aggressive strokeplay with four boundaries and two maximums. Their 43-ball stand rescued and accelerated the innings brilliantly.

Amelia Kerr shone for MI with figures of 2 for 26, as Shabnim Ismail and Nat Sciver-Brunt chipped in with a wicket apiece. Harmanpreet Kaur leads a star-studded MI side including Hayley Matthews and Nat Sciver-Brunt, up against Gardner’s Giants featuring Anushka Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, and Renuka Singh Thakur.

With both sides eyeing playoffs, MI’s chase promises fireworks. Giants’ total looks formidable on a batting-friendly pitch, but MI’s firepower could turn the tide. Stay tuned for what could be a thriller.

Captain Ashley Gardner of Gujarat Giants was straightforward: ‘Batting first it is. Referencing our wins, this is quarterfinal territory. Strong score, then defend. Team stays the same. Forget the past – last game we scored 190 chasing 192 and fell short. Focus on today.’

Harmanpreet Kaur of Mumbai Indians remained upbeat: ‘Preferred bowling first, but every match brings new chances. Good record, yet execution matters. No alterations.’

Points table intrigue adds spice: Gujarat’s 4-3 record places them second, Mumbai’s 3-4 third. RCB’s dominance (6/8) means final berth secured, opening doors for Delhi Capitals and UP Warriors if either falters today.

Spotlight on stars like Beth Mooney’s opening prowess for Gujarat and Hayley Matthews’ all-round threat for MI. With playoffs looming, this game’s outcome could define seasons.

Playing teams:
Mumbai Indians: H. Matthews, S. Sajana, N. Sciver-Brunt, H. Kaur (capt), A. Kaur, A. Kerr, R. Ghosh (keeper), S. Ishaque, V. Sharma, S. Ismail, P. Vastrakar.
Gujarat Giants: B. Mooney (keeper), S. Devine, A. Sharma, A. Gardner (capt), G. Wareham, B. Fulmali, K. Ahuja, K. Gautam, T. Kanwar, R. Singh, R. Gayakwad.

Expect intense cricket under the lights as ambitions collide.

The innings kicked off explosively thanks to the opening duo of skipper Meg Lanning and Deepti Sharma. Their 74-run stand in 8.1 overs set the tone. Lanning departed for a brisk 41 (30 balls, 6×4, 1×6), but Deepti took charge, crafting an unbeaten 55 off 43 balls laced with six fours and a six. Small partnerships with Harleen Deol (14) and Simran Sheikh (10) pushed the score forward.

The tail-end collapsed dramatically, with three wickets tumbling in the last seven balls. Nadine de Klerk was RCB’s wrecker-in-chief, grabbing 4 wickets for 22 runs. Grace Harris snared two, and Bell and Patil chipped in with one apiece.

Lanning’s XI comprised Simran Sheikh, Amy Jones behind the stumps, Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Deepti, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, and Kranti Gaud. RCB countered with Mandhana at the helm, alongside Grace Harris, Georgia Voll, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (wk), de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, and Lauren Bell.

RCB now face a testing chase. Can they overhaul the target, or will Deepti’s gritty effort inspire the Warriors to a crucial win?

‘Bowling first on this batting paradise. We nailed the basics early on – time to simplify again. Pooja Vastrakar replaces Gautami Naik,’ Mandhana shared post-toss.

UP Warriors, fifth on the table with four losses in six, are on the brink. Captain Meg Lanning, the most successful women’s captain in history, replacing Deepti Sharma, emphasized urgency. ‘Every match is a must-win. We’ve addressed our flaws during the break.’ Key inclusions: Amy Jones for Lichfield and Simran Sheikh for Navgire.

Recent overhauls include new head coach Abhishek Nair, but wins remain elusive. Points standings show Gujarat Giants second (4/7), Mumbai Indians third (3/7), Delhi Capitals fourth (3/7) – all vying for playoffs.

Warriors XI: Lanning (c), Sheikh, Jones (wk), Deol, Tryon, Sharma, Sehrawat, Ecclestone, Sobhana, Pandey, Gaud.

RCB XI: Harris, Mandhana (c), Voll, Yadav, Ghosh (wk), de Klerk, Vastrakar, Reddy, Satghare, Patil, Bell.

With UP needing a miracle and RCB seeking consistency, expect fireworks. This game could reshape the playoff race.

Sitting dead last after six games—two wins, four losses—UP Warriors are on the brink of elimination. Playoff qualification hinges on sweeping their final two fixtures, a tall order without Litchfield’s dynamism. The young opener dazzled with 243 runs at a strike rate that terrorized bowlers, her two fifties anchoring key chases and setting aggressive platforms.

Acquired for 1.2 crore in the auction, Litchfield symbolized UP’s ambition. Her quad strain forces a premature exit, with the player heading home for recovery in time for international duties. This setback exacerbates the team’s woes, as their batting has crumbled under pressure throughout the season.

Enter Amy Jones, a seasoned campaigner with over 1,600 T20I runs and glovework pedigree from 125 internationals. WPL debutante or not, her pedigree suggests she can adapt quickly. Team management is banking on her experience to steady the ship and chase down those elusive wins.

With rivals strengthening and momentum against them, UP Warriors’ revival now rests on Jones’ shoulders. Will this replacement prove to be a masterstroke, or just another chapter in their disappointing season?

This penalty, the first over-rate violation for Rodrigues this season, stems directly from the code of conduct violations during Tuesday’s high-stakes encounter. The league’s firm stance highlights its commitment to pace-of-play standards in women’s cricket.

The defeat has shoved Delhi down to fourth in the standings, with only six points from seven outings and a worrying net run rate of -0.164. Their path to playoffs now demands an imperative win against UP Warriors on February 1 to keep hopes alive.

Recapping the thriller: Delhi, electing to field, kept Gujarat to 174/9. A mid-innings collapse was averted by the dynamic duo of Sneha Rana (29 off 15) and Nikki Prasad (47 off 24), who forged a match-reviving 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Tension peaked in the last over, where Sophie Devine’s composure under pressure limited Delhi to 171/8, securing Gujarat’s second triumph over them this season.

For Delhi Capitals, the fine and loss amplify the urgency. Rodrigues’ leadership will be tested like never before as the team eyes redemption. This episode underscores how over-rate issues can overshadow on-field heroics, prompting questions on workload management in T20 leagues.