With a boundary on the fourth ball of the last over from the Women’s Premier League 2026, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their second title from the tournament after beating the Delhi Capitals in the final at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. It was the fourth loss in finals for the Capitals, who become the second team to lose this many finals in women’s franchise cricket after the Brisbane Heat.

Batting first, Delhi Capitals posted a massive score of 203 runs for the loss of four wickets in the 20 overs as Laura Wolvaardt smashed a fine knock of 44 runs in just 25 balls, with the help of three boundaries and a couple of sixes, as their captain, Jamimah Rodrigues, nailed a fine knock of 57 runs in just 37 balls, scoring eight boundaries.

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Bengaluru completed the chase by six wickets with two balls to spare as their captain Smitty Mandana dashed a fine knock of 87 runs in just 41 deliveries thanks to twelve boundaries and three sixes, while their number three batter Georgia Wall cracked 79 runs in just 54 deliveries with the help of 14 boundaries.

List of all award winners from Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026

It was the seventh victory for Bengaluru in nine matches during this WPL edition, which is the joint second-most by a WPL side in any season of the game. Smriti Mandhana finished as the leading run-getter in the tournament for the 2026 season with 377 runs, which is the second most runs in a single season of WPL.

Sophie Divine ended as the leading wicket-taker of the 2026 season. The right-arm pacer picked up 17 wickets, which is the second most wickets in a WPL edition. Bengaluru chased down 204 runs in the final, which is the highest success target being chased in the history of the league.

List of WPL 2026 award winners 

Orange cap winner: Smriti Mandhana (377 runs)

Purple cap winner— Sophie Devine (17 wickets)

Emerging player— Nandini Sharma (17 wickets)

Player of the match for WPL 2026 final- Smriti Mandhana, said, “I feel RCB fans are the best fans in the world. To win two titles in four years is amazing. Everyone going back to their home will say, “This is what we have contributed.”

Brief Scores: RCB-W 204/4 (Smriti Mandhana 87, Georgia Voll 79, Chinelle Henry 2/34) beat DC-W 203/4 (Jemimah Rodrigues 57, Arundhati Reddy 1/40) by six wickets.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women will go up against Delhi Capitals Women in the Final of the Women’s Premier League 2026 on Thursday, January 5 at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara. Both teams have had strong seasons and will now fight for the championship in the biggest match of the tournament.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women are playing their second WPL final. Led by Smriti Mandhana, RCBW previously defeated the same opponent to win the 2024 title, which was their first trophy in franchise history. After another consistent campaign this season, the Bengaluru side will be aiming to lift the trophy once again.

Delhi Capitals Women have once again reached the final, continuing their record of making it to the last match of the tournament. Under the leadership of Jemimah Rodrigues, DCW will be determined to finally win their first WPL title. They will be hoping to make the most of this big opportunity.

RCBW vs DCW: Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 9
  
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Won: 3
  
• Delhi Capitals Women Won: 6
  
• Tied / No Result: 0

RCBW vs DCW: Weather & Pitch Report

The weather conditions in Vadodara are expected to be clear with a favorable for a cricket match. The temperatures are expected to be around 33°C during the day, while during the match, the temperatures are expected to be between 24°C and 28°C. There will be no rainfall, and hence a full match is expected. 

The pitch at the BCA Stadium has mostly supported teams chasing in this WPL season. The surface usually becomes better for batting as the match goes on. Spinners may also get some help from the pitch, making it an interesting contest between bat and ball.

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RCBW vs DCW: Predicted Playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women (RCBW):

Smriti Mandhana (C), Grace Harris, Radha Yadav, Richa Ghosh (WK), Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell

Delhi Capitals Women (DCW):

Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Lizelle Lee (WK), Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Shafali Verma, Chinelle Henry, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Niki Prasad, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma

It’s been a long-time question for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise and their fans on whether they would eventually invest in women’s cricket, with the other big franchises, including Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), doing it and winning titles successfully. For the growth of the game, that side needs to get a new women’s side. 

The franchise Chief Executive, Kasi Vishwanathan, who is one of the most humble cricket administrators, was present at the Tamil Nadu Global Tourism Summit and revealed their plan to invest in women’s cricket under MS Dhoni’s vision in the future. He also confirmed that Dhoni would remain a part of their system forever.

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“MSD will surely play this season and will be with CSK forever. And the very next step for us will be to invest in women’s cricket. You can be sure of it.” Vishwanathan expressed in an interview with Revsportz.

CSK CEO confirms MS Dhoni's presence for franchise forever 

The story of Dhoni and the CSK franchise is a long-time moment where the franchise won the event under the wicket-keeper batter five times, with the latest coming in the 2023 season when they got the better of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Dhoni’s association with Chennai was not straightforward at the start, but it later grew over the years.

“We picked MSD in the auction in 2008 and must say he will forever stay our best investment. Most other teams had an icon player. Mumbai had Sachin, Kolkata Sourav, Bengaluru Rahul, and so on. We did not, and we went for Dhoni, for VB Chandrasekhar had mentioned him to N Srinivasan, saying he would make a fantastic leader. How correct he was!” Kasi Vishwanathan addressed.

“We in CSK have known from the very start that cricketers and administrators think differently. It is better that cricketers are allowed to take on-field calls while the administrators focus on things off the field. MSD had our fullest support in shaping the team and the way we played. The bond was organic, and you can see the results.” The CSK CEO shed light during the same interview.

Ireland and Scotland completed the list of qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup after securing crucial victories in the Global Qualifiers held in Kirtipur, Nepal. Ireland produced a dominant performance to defeat Thailand by 62 runs, while Scotland overcame the USA by 41 runs in their respective Super Six encounters.

The same qualification route which Bangladesh and the Netherlands used to secure their spots earlier has been confirmed as the pathway to the World Cup for both teams. Bangladesh finished at the top of the Super Six table with a flawless record, winning all their matches in the tournament. The Netherlands secured their first World Cup spot by finishing fourth while Ireland and Scotland secured second and third place.

Tournament format, venues and key details

The tournament will consist of 12 teams which include four teams from the Global Qualifiers and eight teams that received automatic entry. The England and Wales Cricket Board will conduct the tournament from June 12 to July 5 2026. The Women’s T20 World Cup will reach its 10th edition because England will host the tournament for its second time following the 2009 inaugural tournament.

The Women’s T20 World Cup will introduce 12 teams for the first time after the previous tournament used 10 teams. Across seven venues, which include Lord’s, Old Trafford, Headingley and Edgbaston, 33 matches will be conducted. The final match of the tournament will take place at Lord’s in London.

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The teams will be divided into two groups of six, with each side playing the others in their group once. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.

New Zealand will defend its title in the tournament because it won the 2024 edition, while Australia holds the record for most victories in the competition with six titles.

Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams

The Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will become a historic event which will enhance women's cricket development across the globe because of new teams and increased competition.

Delhi Capitals Women will face UP Warriorz Women in Match 20 of the Women’s Premier League 2026 on Sunday, February 1, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. This is the final league match of the season, and it carries big importance for Delhi.

Delhi Capitals Women are currently at the fourth position on the points table with three wins out of seven matches. A victory in this match will allow them to surpass Mumbai Indians Women and qualify for the Eliminator match against Gujarat Giants Women. The team led by Jemimah Rodrigues, DCW will be strictly looking to get the job done and keep their hopes of playoffs alive.

UP Warriorz Women have already been eliminated from the competition with only two wins out of seven matches. Although they are out of the competition, the Meg Lanning-led side will look to end their season on a high note and give Delhi a tough time in their last match.

DCW vs UPW: Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 7
  
• Delhi Capitals Women Won: 2
  
• UP Warriorz Women Won: 5
  
• Tied / No Result: 0

DCW vs UPW: Weather & Pitch Report

Vadodara weather is likely to be clear and pleasant for the evening game. The temperature will hover between 22°C and 25°C, without any rain.  Humidity will be moderate, and dew is likely to appear in the second innings, which could help the chasing team.

The pitch at the BCA Stadium usually supports batters. Runs can be scored freely, especially once players are set. Fast bowlers may get some help with the new ball, but dew later in the game can make bowling difficult. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.

See Also: U19 World Cup 2026, Super 6, Match 12: IND U19 vs PAK U19 head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

DCW vs UPW: Predicted Playing XIs

Delhi Capitals Women (DCW):

Jemimah Rodrigues (C), Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (WK), Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Niki Prasad, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma

UP Warriorz Women (UPW):

Meg Lanning (C), Simran Shaikh, Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Amy Jones (WK), Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud

Gujarat Giants Women won a vital 11-run match against Mumbai Indians Women in Match 19 of the WPL 2026 on January 30 in Vadodara. Gujarat Giants Women batted first and scored a good 167/4 in their 20 overs, with Ashleigh Gardner scoring a steady 46 to hold one end. Amelia Kerr was the best bowler for Mumbai Indians, taking 2/26.

Mumbai Indians Women, on the other hand, struggled hard but could only score 156/7 in their 20 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur led by example with a magnificent unbeaten 82 off 48 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes. But she did not have enough support from the other end to help her cross the finish line.

The Gujarat bowlers held their nerve, bowling the last over with two wickets in hand, Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham both bagging two wickets to finish off the win. Devine was also outstanding early with the ball, taking 2/23. With this win, Gujarat Giants Women seal their place in the Eliminator.

WPL 2026 Points Table After GGW vs MIW Match 19

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WPL 2026: Top Performers (After Match 19)

Most Runs:

• Harmanpreet Kaur (MIW) – 342 runs
• Nat Sciver-Brunt (MIW) – 321 runs
• Smriti Mandhana (RCBW) – 290 runs
• Meg Lanning (UPW) – 248 runs
• Ashleigh Gardner (GGW) – 244 runs

Most Wickets:

• Sophie Devine (GGW) – 17 wickets
• Nadine de Klerk (RCBW) – 15 wickets
• Amelia Kerr (MIW) – 14 wickets
• Nandani Sharma (DCW) – 14 wickets
• Shree Charani (DCW) – 12 wickets

The Netherlands have scripted one of the most heart-warming stories in women’s cricket, sealing their maiden qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after an unbeaten run at the Global Qualifiers in Nepal.

The historic moment was confirmed with a 21-run victory over the USA via the DLS method at the rain-hit TU Stadium. Chasing 130, the Dutch were cruising at 90 for two in 12 overs when rain halted play. With the par score comfortably surpassed, celebrations began early - and memorably - as players dived joyfully onto the soaked covers, fully aware they had just changed the course of Dutch women’s cricket.

From associate underdogs to World Cup debutants, the Dutch women turn belief into history

Led by captain Babette de Leede, the Netherlands were flawless throughout the tournament. They topped Group B with wins over Zimbabwe, Scotland, Nepal and Thailand, before beating the United States women's cricket team in their first Super Six match to seal qualification with two games to spare.

Watch the video:

The Dutch Women have just done a celebratory dive on top of the rain soaked covers at TU Stadium in Kathmandu. Today's result, a 21-run DLS win over USA, means they're going to the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/orDS7LUJXb

— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) January 28, 2026

Netherlands women's captain Babette de Leede:

"We're one of the few countries with no contracts at all. We're an Associate country, where cricket is very small, but we made sure that everyone bought into this dream, and our dream has come true"#T20WorldCup #WT20WCQ pic.twitter.com/i1VacVgPet

— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) January 28, 2026

ALSO SEE: Former RCB star set to become new Australia captain across formats

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is the context. Speaking after qualification, de Leede highlighted the uphill battle faced by her side, noting that the team operates without central contracts in a country where cricket remains a minority sport. Yet belief, unity and commitment to a shared dream carried them through.

The 2026 edition will feature 12 teams and be hosted in England and Wales from June to July. Alongside the Netherlands, Bangladesh women's cricket team also booked their place, while Scotland, Ireland, the USA and Thailand continue to battle for the remaining spots.

For the Netherlands, this qualification is more than just a tournament entry - it’s a powerful statement that dreams in associate cricket can, and do, come true.

The Women's T20 Blaze started with a strange and disorganized first over which prompted people to discuss and examine the quality of play and the management and the referee decisions in West Indies women's domestic cricket.

Extras-filled over turns contest into a non-event within minutes

The match between Jamaica Women and Windward Islands Women at Arnos Vale Stadium reached its peak during the fifth place play-off when a single over extended to 21 pitches which resulted in 44 runs. The over produced an extraordinary number of wides and no-balls which resulted in 22 runs from three valid pitches, which caused both supporters and analysts to become astonished.

Jamaica achieved an unbroken 44 runs during their initial batting period before they successfully reached their target of 65 runs without losing any wickets, therefore they needed only 3.4 overs to secure their fifth place victory. The victory margin showed a complete dominance of the match because the team won by 10 wickets while still having 98 balls remaining to play.

A 21 ball over in the T20 blaze

Jamaica Women 44/0 after 1 over.

I've seen it all now. We need to pack WI cricket up pic.twitter.com/d3VJUh6wFj

— Caribbean Cricket Podcast (@CaribCricket) January 23, 2026

The public on social media platforms reacted immediately and harshly to the situation. The over clips became popular online, leading many fans to call the match "farcical" while they doubted how such mistakes could happen during professional domestic matches. The fans who watched the over complete breakdown of order from players and officials, which led them to suspect that there were hidden problems with match management and player training and administrative authority.

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Incident reignites debate over governance and structures in West Indies cricket

The evidence needs to show wrongdoing before the case can proceed to its next stage of investigation. The episode has exposed serious problems which West Indies cricket must resolve through its domestic cricketing framework. 

Cricket West Indies needs to review its umpiring standards, player development pathways, and tournament management because of the increasing demand for such changes. The women's game in the region faces difficulty because historical moments from the region's cricketing past threaten to damage both its credibility and its development. The placement match which should have happened as a routine event has turned into a major conflict which West Indies cricket needs to address.

Gujarat Giants Women played a great all-round game to win against UP Warriorz Women by 45 runs in Match 14 of the WPL 2026 played at Vadodara. Batting first after losing the toss, they scored 153/8 in 20 overs. Sophie Devine played the key role with the bat, staying till the end and guiding the innings after Gujarat lost wickets at regular intervals.

Chasing 154, UP Warriorz Women never really settled during this chase. They lost wickets, which put them in trouble straight away. Phoebe Litchfield scored 32 runs, but she lacked support from the rest of the batters. Gujarat’s bowlers bowled with good discipline and did not allow UPW to build partnerships, especially in the middle overs.

However, UP Warriorz were bowled out for 108 in 17.3 overs. Rajeshwari Gayakwad was tremendous with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 16 runs, thus breaking the back of the chase. Sophie Devine was also top-class with an unbeaten 50 in 42 balls. Gayakwad was named Player of the Match for her match-winning bowling spell, as Gujarat Giants moved up to second place on the points table.

WPL 2026 Points Table After UPW vs GGW Match 14

See Also: IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

WPL 2026: Top Performers (After Match 14)

Most Runs:

• Phoebe Litchfield (UPW) – 243 runs
• Harmanpreet Kaur (MIW) – 240 runs
• Nat Sciver-Brunt (MIW) – 219 runs
• Lizelle Lee (DCW) – 213 runs
• Meg Lanning (UPW) – 207 runs

Most Wickets:

• Sophie Devine (GGW) – 11 wickets
• Nadine de Klerk (RCBW) – 10 wickets
• Amelia Kerr (MIW) – 10 wickets
• Nandani Sharma (DCW) – 10 wickets
• Lauren Bell (RCBW) – 9 wickets

The Gujarat Giants Women will go up against UP Warriorz in Match 14 of the Women's Premier League 2026 on Thursday, January 22, at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. The two teams played against each other earlier this season in a high-scoring match, where Gujarat Giants emerged victorious. Both teams will be keen to make an impact again.

Gujarat Giants Women started WPL 2026 well, winning their opening matches. Since then, they have not been able to hold on to the winning momentum and are currently on a losing streak. Led by Ashleigh Gardner, GGW will be desperate to return to winning ways as the league stage enters its crucial phase.

UP Warriorz had a tough beginning to their campaign, losing their first three matches. Things have been little different in the recent times with back-to-back wins against Mumbai Indians Women giving them much-needed confidence. Under Meg Lanning’s leadership, UPW will look to continue this form and aim for a third straight victory.

GGW vs UPW: Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 7
  
• Gujarat Giants Women Won: 4
  
• UP Warriorz Women Won: 3
  
• Tied / No Result: 0

GGW vs UPW: Weather & Pitch Report

Skies will be sunny and clear over Vadodara on match day. The temperature is expected to remain around 30°C, with a low humidity of 29%. There are no chances of rainfall and a gentle wind of 11 km/h is expected.

The BCA Stadium pitch has largely favoured teams chasing the target. Before this season, six women’s T20 matches were played here, and all were won by the side batting second. The average first-innings score at the venue is around 156, so captains winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.

See Also: SA20 2025-26, Eliminator: PR vs JSK head-to-head, pitch report & predicted playing XIs

GGW vs UPW: Predicted Playing XIs

Gujarat Giants Women (GGW):

Renuka Singh Thakur, Beth Mooney (WK), Anushka Sharma, Kanika Ahuja, Sophie Devine, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Georgia Wareham, Tanuja Kanwer, Happy Kumari

UP Warriorz Women (UPW):

Meg Lanning (C), Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Shweta Sehrawat (WK), Phoebe Litchfield, Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Goud