Royal Challengers Bengaluru etched their name in history by clinching the Women’s Premier League 2026 title with a commanding six-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in the final. The spotlight, however, firmly belonged to Smriti Mandhana, whose explosive batting performance not only powered RCB to glory but also shattered multiple records along the way.
Mandhana’s masterclass in the final saw her blaze 87 runs off just 41 balls, setting a new benchmark for the highest individual score in a WPL final. Her partner in crime, Georgia Wareham, complemented her brilliantly with 79 runs, claiming the second-highest score in final history. This duo’s synergy peaked with a sensational 165-run second-wicket stand, the highest partnership for any wicket in WPL history, eclipsing the previous record of 162 runs from 2023. Notably, it marked the first century-plus partnership in a WPL final and the biggest in any women’s T20 final.
Mandhana’s fireworks included the fastest fifty in WPL playoff history, achieved in a mere 23 balls – her quickest in the league too. This wasn’t a one-off; across the tournament, she aggregated 377 runs in nine innings at an average of 53.85 and a blistering strike rate of 153.25, securing the Orange Cap. These figures place her second on the all-time single-season WPL run-scorers list. She also became the fifth player to reach 1,000 WPL runs and the top run-getter for RCB in the competition.
With six century partnerships under her belt in WPL – the most by any batter – Mandhana has redefined dominance. RCB’s second title win underscores their growing prowess, fueled by this talismanic opener’s brilliance. As women’s cricket continues to evolve, Mandhana stands tall as its brightest star.