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STUMP VISION FEBRUARY 13, 2026 | The Indian Eye 42

A fearless chase and a captain’s knock

seal another unforgettable WPL crown

Smriti Mandhana’s blazing 87 powers Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a record-breaking chase
as the franchise completes a golden treble

OUR BUREAU stunning 165-run partnership for the
second wicket, the cornerstone of
Vadodara (Gujarat)
RCB’s historic pursuit. Voll played
mriti Mandhana delivered a the perfect foil, compiling a com-
season-defining performance posed 79 off 54 balls, laced with 14
Sunder the brightest lights, fours, while Mandhana surged ahead,
leading Royal Challengers Bengalu- punishing anything short or wide and
ru (RCB) to their second Women’s lofting confidently over the infield.
Premier League (WPL) title with a Mandhana’s 87 was not just de-
six-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in cisive; it was historic, becoming the
a pulsating final at the BCA Stadium highest individual score in a WPL fi-
on Thursday. In a night that rewrote nal. It also capped a season in which
WPL history, RCB chased down a her highest score, a 96 against Del-
daunting 204, the highest successful hi Capitals in the league stage, had
chase ever in a women’s T20 final, already hinted at what was to come.
sealing their place as the dominant Even when DC clawed back briefly
force of the league’s young history. with three quick wickets in the clos-
Mandhana, already the heart- ing overs, the calm heads of Radha
beat of RCB’s rise, was at her fluent, Yadav (12 not out) and Nadine de
fearless best, scoring a match-win- Klerk (7 not out) guided RCB home
ning 87 off just 41 balls. Her innings with two balls to spare.
not only anchored the record chase While the spotlight belonged
but also crowned a magnificent tour- to Mandhana, the tournament also
nament for the 29-year-old, who fin- unearthed new stars. Delhi Capitals’
ished as the leading run-scorer with uncapped seamer Nandani Sharma
377 runs in nine innings to claim her finished as the joint leading wick-
first Orange Cap. et-taker with 17 scalps and was de-
servedly named Emerging Player of
With an average of 53.86 and a the Season. The Purple Cap, howev-
er, went to Gujarat Giants’ Sophie
strike rate north of 150, Mand- Devine, who edged ahead on econo-
hana’s 2026 campaign now my rate, underlining the fine margins
that defined the season.
stands as the second-best in- RCB’s triumph sparked cele-

dividual season in WPL history, brations across the cricketing world,
with franchise legends Virat Kohli
behind only Nat Sciver-Brunt’s and AB de Villiers leading the trib-
523-run effort in 2025. Mandhana’s 87 was not just decisive; it was historic, becoming the highest individual score in utes. Kohli, whose long wait for an
a WPL final (ANI file photo) IPL title ended last year, took to Ins-
tagram to hail the women’s team and
The title made Mandhana only Delhi Capitals, seeking their Just when RCB threatened to their captain, writing that the players
the second captain to lift the WPL first WPL crown, set the final up for rein things in, Chinelle Henry pro- should “enjoy the moment and em-
trophy twice, after Mumbai Indians’ a classic with a commanding batting duced a brutal late assault. Her un- brace the love of our amazing fans.”
Harmanpreet Kaur, and confirmed display. After RCB won the toss and beaten 35 off 15 balls, featuring four De Villiers, too, shared his joy, cel-
RCB’s second championship follow- elected to bowl, Lizelle Lee (37 off boundaries and two sixes, propelled ebrating a franchise that has finally
ing their maiden triumph in 2024. 30) and Shafali Verma (20 off 13) Delhi Capitals to 203 for 4 in 20 overs shed its “trophyless” tag.
More significantly, it underscored gave DC early momentum. A 76-run — the highest total ever posted in a For Mandhana and RCB, this
a remarkable transformation for a stand for the third wicket between WPL final and a score that seemed, victory was about more than silver-
franchise once mocked for its empty Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wol- at the interval, just beyond reach. ware. It was a statement of intent,
cabinet. In the space of three years, vaardt steadied the innings after a What followed was a chase for a demonstration of fearless cricket,
RCB have won the WPL twice and brief wobble. the ages. RCB lost Grace Harris and a reminder of how quickly for-
ended their long wait for an IPL ti- Rodrigues, leading from the early, but Mandhana seized control tunes can change when belief meets
tle in the men’s game, achieving the front, struck a classy 57 off 37 balls, immediately, combining elegance brilliance. On a warm Vadodara
rare distinction of holding both titles peppered with eight fours, while with intent. Alongside Georgia Voll, night, RCB didn’t just win a final —
simultaneously. Wolvaardt added a composed 44. she dismantled the DC attack with a they carved out a legacy.

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