If batting is an art, the WPL 2026 final at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara felt like a gallery of masterpieces. The contest began with Lizelle Lee’s solid contribution and ended with a stunning assault from Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll. Their explosive approach guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a win over Delhi Capitals in the title clash, earning their second championship in three seasons. The pair added a remarkable 165-run stand, while the Jemimah Rodrigues-led Delhi attack had a tough day, suffering their fourth consecutive defeat in a WPL final.

Batting first, Delhi lost Lee early, but Jemimah stepped up and took charge of the innings. She scored 57 off 37 balls and laid a strong platform for the rest of the lineup. Laura Wolvaardt and Chinelle Henry then carried the momentum forward with a 55-run partnership. Wolvaardt made 44 from 25 deliveries, while Henry finished strongly with an unbeaten 35 off just 15 balls.

On the back of these efforts, Delhi Capitals posted a competitive total of 203, which looked defendable at the interval. However, the loss marked another painful chapter, as it became DC’s fourth straight defeat in a WPL final. There was also a brief moment of controversy at the end, with the bails coming off as the winning boundary was struck.

Watch the winning moments of RCB as they lifted the WPL 2026 trophy below.

ಈ ಸಲ ಕೂಡ ಕಪ್ ನಮ್ದೇ ಗುರು!🏆🏆

📺 ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ | TATA WPL 👉🏻 FINAL | #RCBvDC | LIVE NOW | ನಿಮ್ಮ Star Sports ಕನ್ನಡ & JioHotstar ನಲ್ಲಿ.

#TATAWPL #WPLFinal pic.twitter.com/ewLW5dRwYk

— Star Sports Kannada (@StarSportsKan) February 5, 2026

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RCB Seal the WPL 2026 Title in Style

However, Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll had different plans. Their aggressive batting completely changed the game in the second innings. Grace Harris was dismissed early for nine runs, and Bengaluru struggled briefly in the powerplay. Once the partnership settled in, the momentum shifted firmly in RCB’s favour. Delhi’s bowlers failed to execute their plans in the middle overs and could not slow the scoring.

Mandhana–Voll Dominate the Chase

Voll was eventually dismissed after scoring 79 runs, while Mandhana continued her fluent knock and made 87. Chinelle Henry triggered a late twist by removing both set batters, bringing Delhi back into the contest. After Richa Ghosh departed for six, the pressure increased. Nadine de Klerk and Radha Yadav stayed calm at the crease and finished the chase, sparking wild celebrations as RCB players rushed onto the field. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, were left heartbroken after another final defeat.

RCB Hold Nerve in Final Overs

Chasing a target of 204, RCB were powered by a stunning 165-run partnership between Mandhana and Voll, which came off just 92 balls. The duo carried the chase despite losing Harris early in the innings. In the final over, Radha Yadav (unbeaten 12) and Nadine de Klerk (unbeaten 7) ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding RCB to their second WPL title.

Brief Score:

Delhi Capitals – 203/4 (Jemimah 57, Laura 44)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 204/4 (Smriti 87, Voll 79)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler Josh Hazlewood may miss the opening matches of the T20 World Cup 2026, as he will stay in Sydney to continue his recovery from an Achilles injury. Right-arm pacer Sean Abbott, who played in Australia’s recent series against Pakistan, has been named as a reserve in the squad.

The 35-year-old has not played in recent weeks. He missed the start of the 2025–26 Ashes series due to a hamstring strain and later suffered an Achilles problem while returning to fitness.

Hazlewood was initially sidelined with a hamstring injury before the Achilles setback occurred. After reviewing his condition, Cricket Australia’s medical team decided he should remain at home and focus on regaining full fitness before linking up with the World Cup group.

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Selector Gives Fitness Update on Hazlewood

Providing an update on Josh Hazlewood’s fitness, selector Tony Dodemaide said, as quoted by Cricket Australia, that it was better for the fast bowler to continue his recovery at home.

“We felt it was more practical and helpful for Josh to continue his rehabilitation in a familiar setting before travelling to Sri Lanka,” Dodemaide said.

Josh Hazlewood could miss the early stages of the T20 World Cup as he will remain in Sydney to continue his rehabilitation from an Achilles issue with Sean Abbott added to Australia's squad as a travelling reserve pic.twitter.com/EGJmARN8YM

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 2, 2026

Cummins Ruled Out, Others Join Squad

As Hazlewood races against time, Cricket Australia confirmed on January 31 that Pat Cummins will miss the T20 World Cup 2026 due to an ongoing back problem. Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis has been named as his replacement.

Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis, and Tim David are set to join the Australian squad in Colombo on Tuesday. The trio missed the Pakistan tour and will be available for the warm-up match against the Netherlands on Thursday, February 5.

Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule

The 2021 champions have been placed in Group B for the T20 World Cup 2026. Australia will begin their campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo. They will then face Zimbabwe on February 13 in Colombo, Sri Lanka on February 16 in Kandy, and Oman on February 20, also in Kandy.

Australia Squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Australia’s squad includes Mitch Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.

Sean Abbott has been named as the travelling reserve.

In a heartwarming video, a devoted fan of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) revealed his daughter's name, which caught Team India and RCB Women's team star Shreyanka Patil's attention on a social media platform. The fan named their newborn daughter in the cricketer's honour ahead of WPL 2026.

Viewers can see the fan holding up an RCB jersey with "Shreyanka 20" printed on the back. The gesture by the fan mesmerised the star all-rounder as well. In a warm gesture, the cricketer asked the fan to share their address so she could send a gift for the newborn daughter. "Awwww, this is sooo cute! Please DM your address so I can send something for little Shreyanka," Patil wrote in her comment.

Shreyanka Patil, with her spin bowling abilities and handy batting skills as a lower-order batter, proved instrumental for the franchise. She has been an integral part of the team over the last three seasons. During the WPL 2024 season, when the women's team of RCB lifted the trophy, Patil played a massive role behind the triumph. She was the highest wicket-taker with 13 wickets in eight matches in that season. She claimed the purple cap as well.

Read More: VHT 2025-26: Sarfaraz Khan's blistering 157-run knock in 75 balls ahead of IPL 2026

A devoted fan of RCB named newborn daughter Shreyanka

Shreyanka Patil to send a #RCB Jersey to the fan who named his daughter "Shreyanka" ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Fic1196C05

— RCB Xtra (@Rcb_Xtra) December 31, 2025

The all-rounder missed the entire WPL 2025 due to a shin injury. After rehabilitation, Patil returned to competitive matches through the Women's Caribbean Premier League with the Barbados Royals in 2025. Despite missing an entire season, the franchise retained her ahead of the WPL 2026 auction.

It is expected to see her in action again in the red and black jersey when RCB-W will be facing the two-time champions Mumbai Indians on January 9 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans were demanding to see the South African legend AB de Villiers for more time in the franchise colors in the Indian Premier League, as he guided South Africa to win the World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL) trophy only a few months ago.

Villiers clearly said that at the age of 41, it is not possible for him to play in the IPL, which is around a 3-month-long league. But now, ahead of the new year, a report on RCB and AB de Villiers has emerged, which can cause joy for the franchise fans.

According to the latest updates, AB de Villiers is set to become the new batting coach of RCB. As of now, former India international Dinesh Karthik is the batting coach of RCB. So, if the reports and speculations are to be believed, then the IPL 2025 winning franchise can reshape their coaching setup. As of now, there is no strong confirmation about the possible change ahead of the 2026 season of the league (IPL 2026).

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AB de Villiers to make a comeback in RCB?

A few months ago, this year, the former South Africa keeper-batter said in an interview, "I think I'd rather just support; I'm a very good supporter. Yeah, the IPL is just a very long tournament. It's almost a three-month tournament. It is a really big commitment for someone at the age of 41. You can't compare me to Imran Tahir. I work a lot harder. I had a lot more hard work. I think throughout the years." 

AB de Villiers was one of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s most explosive and iconic batsmen in the Indian Premier League. Over his IPL career, he amassed over 5,100 runs in 184 matches at an overall average of about 39.7 and a phenomenal strike rate around 151-152, plus 3 centuries and 40 fifties, making him one of the most feared middle-order hitters in the league.

When Tim David left the field during the Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers Big Bash League (BBL) match, it was an alarming sign for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, as David is in their squad for the IPL 2026 season. RCB shared the latest updates on the Australian all-rounder's injury on December 27.

It was a BBL 2025-26 match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Perth Scorchers. In the second innings of the match, the Scorchers were chasing a target of 151 runs. David came to bat at the number 5 position and provided much-required stability in the middle, for which the Perth-based franchise was gasping. They were already down by three men when David joined Nikhil Chaudhary. The partnership between Chaudhary and David helped the team to edge past the first 100-run mark.

David was named best player of the match for his 42-run knock off 28 deliveries. He had left the field because of some problem in his leg. Later, it was reported that it was a hamstring issue which forced him to leave the pitch. Although, before leaving the ground as retiring hurt, he did his job well. Perth Scorchers eventually won the match by 7 wickets in 19.3 overs. David's 42-run innings was laced with three boundaries and two over boundaries.

🚨It’s an Hamstring and reason why Tim David walked off the field was he didn’t wanted to make it worse

Means everything is fine ✔️
pic.twitter.com/wurQJnKc4F

— RCB (@RCBtweetzz) December 27, 2025

Read More: KKR IPL 2026 Ownership Update: Shah Rukh Khan set to acquire Mehta Group’s Shares in franchise

After the match, David himself informed us that because of extra precaution, he vacated the field. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) shared the part of David's interview with the caption, "It’s a hamstring, and the reason why Tim David walked off the field was he didn’t want to make it worse... Means everything is fine."

Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL 2026 Full Squad:

Retained Players

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma.

Players Bought from IPL 2026 Auction

Venkatesh Iyer (7 cr), Mangesh Yadav (5.2 cr), Jacob Duffy (2 cr), Satwik Deswal (30 L), Jordan Cox (75 L), Vihaan Malhotra (30 L), Kanishk Chouhan (30 L), Vicky Ostwal (30 L)

RCB star pacer Yash Dayal has faced a serious legal setback after a POCSO court in Jaipur rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case involving allegations of rape of a minor. The decision was delivered by Judge Alka Bansal of Jaipur Metropolitan Court (POCSO Court-3).

In the order, the court added, the materials available on record show that Dayal has been falsely implicated in these cases. The judge noted that the investigation carried out so far points towards his possible involvement, and therefore, anticipatory bail cannot be granted at this stage of the case.

The case has been registered at the Sanganer Sadar Police Station in Jaipur. The minor daughter of the complainant has leveled allegations of luring her into his trap for the purpose of assisting her in her cricketing career, emotional blackmailing, and repeated instances of sexual assault against Dayal.

Court Cites Evidence, Defence Denies Allegations

As per the FIR, the incidents are alleged to have taken place at various places, including hotel stays in Jaipur and Kanpur. The police have recovered chats, images, and video recordings extracted from the girl’s mobile phone, as well as calls and hotel stay records. The POCSO Act considers such materials to be crucial evidence.

During the hearing, Dayal’s lawyer, Kunal Jaiman, argued that the cricketer only met the girl in public places and was never alone with her. The defense claimed that the girl presented herself as an adult and that no offense under POCSO was made out in the circumstances described.

See Also: Karnataka chase 435 runs in the Vijay Hazare trophy, becoming the second team after SA in List A cricket history

The defense further alleged that the girl took money from Dayal by citing financial difficulties and continued to demand more. According to the lawyer, the case was filed to harass and extort a “respected cricketer.” It was also argued that a related case in Ghaziabad was part of the same alleged extortion attempt. However, after considering all submissions, the Jaipur court refused to grant anticipatory bail, allowing the investigation to continue without granting Dayal protection from arrest.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised defending IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru for signing New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy at his base price during the IPL mini auction. Ashwin called the move a smart and valuable buy considering Duffy’s recent performances.

The 31-year-old right-arm pacer has been in excellent form and is currently ranked number two among bowlers in T20 internationals. His strong performances across all major formats have established him as one of the top bowling performers this year.

Duffy recently impressed in the third and final Test against the West Indies, where he took nine wickets. His effort helped New Zealand register a big 323-run victory in the match.

Ashwin Calls 2025 Jacob Duffy’s “Coming of Age” Year

With his nine-wicket haul, Duffy also broke a long-standing New Zealand record. He went past the 40-year-old record of Richard Hadlee by becoming the Kiwi bowler with the most wickets in a single calendar year. Duffy has taken 81 wickets in 2025, beating Hadlee’s 79 wickets from 1985.  In the three-match Test series against the West Indies, Duffy picked up a five-wicket haul in each game and finished with 23 wickets. Ashwin took note of these performances and said that 2025 has been Duffy’s “coming of age” year as a cricketer.

What a cricketer Jacob Duffy is turning out to be. 2025 has been his coming of age year.

23 wickets at 15.43, 40.3 Strike rate and MOS in the tests against Windies.

He’s also the current #2 ranked T20I bowler, with a sensational 2025 in T20s with 57 wickets at 18.9, 7.89… pic.twitter.com/Oda9LxdqxX

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 22, 2025

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Ashwin wrote on X that Duffy is operating at peak efficiency, highlighting his strong Test numbers and impressive T20 record. He also said that RCB picking him up at a base price of INR 2 crore was an “absolute steal” and a sensational move.

RCB signed Duffy for INR 2 crore at the mini auction in Abu Dhabi. This will be his first season in the Indian Premier League, where he could act as a like-for-like replacement for Josh Hazlewood if needed.

The IPL mini-auction delivered a major twist for three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders, who were unable to bring back Venkatesh Iyer. The left-handed batter was snapped up by defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 7 crore. Iyer had earlier been bought by KKR for INR 23.75 crore before the 2025 season. His poor form in the last IPL played a big role in KKR letting him go before the retention deadline.

Even so, KKR did not give up easily at the auction table. The franchise kept increasing the bid and went as high as INR 6.8 crore. When the amount touched INR 7 crore, KKR decided not to continue. That final call allowed RCB to secure the player and brought an end to Iyer’s long spell with KKR.

KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar later spoke about the situation and confirmed that the team wanted Iyer back. He explained that the management felt other teams were holding money for different players. Because of that, KKR believed they might be able to re-sign him at a lower price.

Cameron Green Pick Explains KKR’s Auction Strategy

Speaking to JioHotstar, Nayar said, “Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for us from the start. We tried to get him back. We felt other teams were saving money for different players, so we thought we could get him at a lower price.” He also pointed out that Iyer suited KKR’s setup well. According to him, the all-rounder gave the team valuable balance and flexibility. He further added, “He is experienced and fits our setup, giving us flexibility. We tried, but RCB always seems to go after our players. This year, they got him. Venkatesh has been phenomenal for us over the years, and I wish him all the best in his new IPL journey.” The coach’s words showed respect and appreciation for Iyer’s contribution. He made it clear there was no bitterness over the outcome.

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While missing out on Iyer, KKR made headlines by signing Cameron Green for INR 25.20 crore. This deal made Green the most expensive player in IPL history, going past Mitchell Starc. Explaining the move, Nayar said, “I can’t say how high we were willing to go for him, but we wanted to go all out. If we have the money, we spend it. There was no point in saving the money.” He added, “The idea was to do whatever we could to get Green because he is a very important player for us. With Andre Russell gone, we need someone to take the franchise forward. So, we decided we must have Cameron Green.” Along with Green, KKR also added Matheesha Pathirana, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Rachin Ravindra to strengthen their squad.

Talking about IPL 2026, KKR is going to be led by Ajinkya Rahane. After being eliminated from the playoffs in the previous season, the team hopes that their aggressive strategy in the auction really makes a difference in their favor. With a refreshed squad and new leadership options, KKR will aim to return to the top when the tournament begins on March 26.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) went into the IPL 2026 auction with a very limited budget. So, they had to move smartly. The franchise retained most of their players from the last season. During the auction, they mostly invested in young players. 

Kanishk Chouhan was one of the emerging players who was picked by RCB from the IPL 2026 mini auction. The all-rounder is an integral part of the India Under-19 setup who has so far performed brilliantly in the ongoing Asia Cup U-19 tournament. After the auction, Indian cricket fans got more curious about the player. 

The 19-year-old was among the best performers during the India U-19 vs Pakistan U-19 match on December 14. With the bat, he scored 46 runs and took 3 important wickets to defend a total of 240. For this all-round performance, the Rajasthan-born got the man of the match award. 

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Watch some glimpses of Kanishk Chouhan's batting in Asia Cup U-19

RCB’s New Recruit Kanishk Chouhan in ongoing U19 Asia Cuppic.twitter.com/4YIeObWp9R

— Fearless🦁 (@ViratTheLegend) December 18, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained players and new players for the IPL 2026 season: For only INR 30 lakhs, the defending champion secured his sign. He is currently a second-year BA student at Shah Satnam Ji Boys College, Sirsa, and has been playing for the Shah Satnam Cricket Academy, Sirsa, for the past 10 years. His father, Pradeep Kumar, is a farmer, and his mother is a homemaker. He is the only son in his family. 

RCB full squad 

Retained players:

Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma.

Players from the IPL 2026 auction:

Venkatesh Iyer (7 cr), Mangesh Yadav (5.2 cr), Jacob Duffy (2 cr), Satwik Deswal (30 L), Jordan Cox (75 L), Vihaan Malhotra (30 L), Kanishk Chouhan (30 L), Vicky Ostwal (30 L)

At the IPL 2026 mini auction, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured the Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore. It was a tough bidding war, with teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, and Gujarat Titans also showing interest. In the end, RCB stayed firm and successfully added Venkatesh to their squad.

Venkatesh Iyer will now play for the defending champions after being picked at the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi. LSG and Gujarat Titans started the bidding before RCB and KKR entered the race. KKR pulled out after bidding ₹6.80 crore, allowing RCB to seal the deal. Venkatesh will reunite with his Madhya Pradesh teammate and RCB captain Rajat Patidar, adding strength to the batting and all-round department.

RCB are coming into IPL 2026 with high confidence after winning their first-ever IPL title earlier this year. They defeated the Punjab Kings in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Ahead of the auction, RCB retained most of their key players, including Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar. After signing Venkatesh Iyer, RCB head coach Andy Flower said, "It’s two years running we’ve battled KKR for Venky—we both rate him highly, so it’s great to have him on board. We met him, chatted, and loved his competitive spirit, smarts, and leadership qualities for the dressing room and field. Looking forward to working with him."

See Also: IPL Auction 2026: Full squad and new bought players for Delhi Capitals

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Bought Players at IPL 2026 Auction

Venkatesh Iyer (₹7 crore), Jacob Duffy (₹2 crore), Mangesh Yadav (₹5.2 crore), Satvik Deswal (₹30 lakh), Jordan Cox (₹75 lakh), Kanishk Chouhan (₹30 lakh), Vihaan Malhotra (₹30 lakh), Vicky Ostwal (₹30 lakh).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Full Squad for IPL 2026

Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy, Mangesh Yadav, Satvik Deswal, Jordan Cox, Kanishk Chouhan, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal.