Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women created history once again by winning the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title for the second time. In the grand final played on Thursday at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium, RCB defeated Delhi Capitals by 6 wickets in a high-scoring and dramatic match. After lifting their maiden title in 2024, Bengaluru continued their strong run, while Delhi suffered their fourth consecutive defeat in a WPL final.
Batting first, Delhi Capitals put up an impressive total, the highest ever in a WPL final. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues played a key role with a fluent 57 runs off 37 balls, including eight boundaries. Laura Wolvaardt contributed 44 runs, while Shanelle Henry remained unbeaten on 35. Lizelle Lee scored 37 runs and Shafali Verma added 20, helping Delhi cross the 200-run mark and set a challenging target of 204.
Chasing a massive total, RCB showed great composure and intent from the start. Captain Smriti Mandhana led from the front with a brilliant 87-run knock. She found strong support from Georgia Wareham, who smashed 79 runs. The duo stitched together a match-defining partnership of 165 runs off just 92 balls, swinging the momentum firmly in Bengaluru’s favour.
The match went down to the final over, adding to the excitement. With 10 runs needed from the last six balls, RCB held their nerve. Radha Yadav and Nadine de Klerk picked up singles off the first two deliveries. On the third ball, Radha struck a boundary to ease the pressure. A moment of drama followed when her bat brushed the stumps, but the bails stayed intact, and the ball crossed the boundary. That stroke sealed the win for RCB, who chased down the target with two balls to spare. This chase also became the highest successful run chase in a WPL final.
With this victory, Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women were awarded a prize money of ₹6 crore. Runners-up Delhi Capitals received ₹3 crore. Sophie Devine was named Player of the Tournament and earned a cash award of ₹5 lakh for her consistent all-round performances throughout the season.
The final showcased the growing competitiveness and popularity of women’s cricket, with both teams delivering an unforgettable contest on the biggest stage of the WPL.
