In a high-stakes clash at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to field first against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final on Thursday. This decision sets the stage for an intense battle as both teams vie for glory in the season’s marquee event.
Mandhana, exuding confidence, explained her choice: ‘We wanted to bowl first. It’s been a trend in this tournament, but on a good wicket, it’s always nice to know what you’re chasing.’ RCB sticks with the same playing XI that delivered in their previous outing, banking on continuity and form.
DC skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, philosophical about the toss loss, remarked: ‘Losing the toss in a big game is sometimes for the best. We’d have bowled first too, but we’re happy with this. Playing on the same pitch as the eliminator helps us understand its behavior.’
Delhi Capitals are chasing history, appearing in their record fourth WPL final. They’ve tasted defeat before—losing to Mumbai Indians in the inaugural season and the third, with RCB claiming the title against them in the second. Now, DC aims to finally lift the trophy.
RCB, on the other hand, seeks a second crown after their previous triumph. The pitch, familiar from recent games, promises a fair contest between bat and ball.
DC’s lineup features Lizelle Lee (wk), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Sri Charani, and Nandini Sharma.
RCB counters with Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, and Lauren Bell.
As the first ball is bowled, fans are braced for a thrilling finale that could redefine legacies in women’s cricket.