The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) concluded in spectacular fashion on Thursday as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Delhi Capitals by six wickets in a thrilling final at BCA Stadium in Vadodara. With this victory, RCB secured their second WPL title, matching Mumbai Indians for the most championships in the tournament’s history.
The tournament also saw standout individual performances, with RCB’s captain Smriti Mandhana clinching the Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer and Gujarat Giants’ all-rounder Sophie Devine taking the Purple Cap for most wickets.
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Smriti Mandhana Clinches Orange Cap
Mandhana, the Indian vice-captain, led RCB with a series of consistent performances, finishing the WPL 2026 with 377 runs in nine matches. She kicked off the tournament with an unbeaten 47 against UP Warriorz and came agonizingly close to her maiden WPL century, falling for 96 against Delhi Capitals.
Despite a few low scores in the middle of the season, Mandhana rose to the occasion in the final, scoring a crucial 87 to guide RCB to victory. Her leadership and batting prowess were instrumental in RCB’s title run.
Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur finished second on the run charts with 342 runs, closely followed by her teammate Nat Sciver-Brunt, who amassed 321 runs. Delhi Capitals’ South African duo, Lizelle Lee (320 runs) and Laura Wolvaardt (317 runs), completed the top five.
Top Five Run-Scorers in WPL 2026
| Player | Team | Matches | Highest | Average | Strike Rate | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | RCB | 9 | 96 | 53.86 | 153.25 | 377 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Mumbai Indians | 8 | 82* | 68.40 | 150.66 | 342 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | Mumbai Indians | 7 | 100* | 64.20 | 151.41 | 321 |
| Lizelle Lee | Delhi Capitals | 10 | 86 | 32.00 | 139.13 | 320 |
| Laura Wolvaardt | Delhi Capitals | 10 | 77 | 45.29 | 135.47 | 317 |
Sophie Devine Wins Purple Cap
In the bowling department, Sophie Devine claimed the Purple Cap for her 17 wickets in nine matches, edging out Delhi Capitals’ young star Nandini Sharma, who also took 17 wickets but played one extra match. RCB’s Nadine de Klerk, Mumbai Indians’ Amelia Kerr, and Delhi Capitals’ Sree Charani rounded out the top five bowlers of the tournament.
Devine’s standout performance of 4/37 and her consistent wicket-taking ability were key to Gujarat Giants’ competitive showing in WPL 2026.
Top Five Wicket-Takers in WPL 2026
| Player | Team | Matches | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Devine | Gujarat Giants | 9 | 4/37 | 16.00 | 8.28 | 17 |
| Nandini Sharma | Delhi Capitals | 10 | 5/33 | 18.59 | 8.32 | 17 |
| Nadine de Klerk | RCB | 9 | 4/22 | 15.69 | 7.84 | 16 |
| Amelia Kerr | Mumbai Indians | 7 | 3/24 | 15.00 | 7.50 | 14 |
| Sree Charani | Delhi Capitals | 10 | 4/31 | 22.36 | 8.31 | 14 |
WPL 2026 showcased the growing talent and competitiveness of women’s cricket in India, with thrilling matches, record-breaking performances, and a dramatic finale that highlighted the league’s rising stature on the global stage.