Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women's team created history on Thursday night by winning the Women’s Premier League for the second time, lifting the WPL 2026 title with a thrilling six-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals. Chasing a challenging target of 204, Royal Challengers Bengaluru reached the mark with two balls to spare, sealing their second WPL crown after their maiden title in 2024.
Leading from the front, captain Smriti Mandhana produced a sensational knock of 87 off just 41 balls. She found strong support in Georgia Voll, who hammered 79 runs as the duo stitched together a massive 165-run partnership for the second wicket. Their stand took the game away from the Delhi Capitals, setting up a memorable win for the franchise.
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With this triumph, RCB achieved a rare feat in Indian franchise cricket, becoming the first team to hold both the men’s and women’s titles simultaneously. The franchise won the Indian Premier League for the first time last year and has now added the WPL trophy to its cabinet.
Virat Kohli reacts to emotional moments on the field
This historic win drew an emotional response from Virat Kohli. He liked RCB’s celebratory post on Instagram moments after the final. Soon after, he shared his own message congratulating the team and Mandhana, who wears the same jersey number as him.
Kohli wrote on Instagram, “Champions again. Keeping the RCB flag flying high and something that each one of you can be Proud of. To smriti @smriti_mandhana and the whole squad and the management team, a big congratulations for this tremendous victory. You guys deserve this undoubtedly. Enjoy the moment and embrace the love of our amazing fans @royalchallengers.bengaluru."
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Final match highlights
The loss marked Delhi Capitals’ fourth consecutive defeat in a WPL final. Skipper Jemimah Rodrigues was visibly emotional, but the final also witnessed a touching moment when she shared a long hug with Mandhana after the match.
Earlier, Delhi posted 203/4 after batting first, with Jemimah top-scoring with 57, while Lizelle Lee (37), Laura Wolvaardt (47) and Chinelle Henry (35) made key contributions. RCB’s chase saw an early setback with Grace Harris falling cheaply, but Mandhana and Voll dominated proceedings. After both departed, Radha Yadav kept her calm, striking boundaries on the third and fourth balls of the final over to seal the title.
