If there was ever a whisper about Smriti Mandhana going missing in finals, she put it to rest in emphatic fashion. Battling illness, Mandhana produced a stunning 87 off 41 balls to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second WPL title while chasing 204 against Delhi Capitals in Vadodara, a performance that lit up the big stage for fans on tigerexch vip and beyond.
Playing Through Severe Flu with No Complaints
RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan revealed that Mandhana was suffering from a “massive flu” and high fever ahead of the final.
Despite her condition, Mandhana showed no visible discomfort and reassured the coaching staff that she was ready to play, underlining her professionalism and work ethic.
Perfectly Timed Innings in a High-Pressure Chase
Mandhana began cautiously, allowing Georgia Voll to take the early initiative. After five overs, she was just 6 off 5 balls. What followed was a dramatic shift in gears, as Mandhana began to dominate the bowling and control the chase with remarkable composure.
Dismantling Delhi Capitals’ Spin Attack
As RCB’s only left-handed batter, Mandhana took on Delhi Capitals’ strongest weapon — their spin bowling.
She attacked left-arm spinner Sree Charani, who had been highly effective throughout the Vadodara leg, leaving DC captain Jemimah Rodrigues short of options. Even the experienced Sneh Rana was unable to contain Mandhana’s fluent strokeplay.
A Showcase of Elite Shot-Making
Mandhana was in complete command, dispatching similar deliveries to different parts of the ground:
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Backing away to pierce the off-side through point
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Moving across the stumps to whip shots between long-on and deep midwicket
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Lofting Sneh Rana inside-out over wide long-off as a statement stroke
RCB struck at least one boundary in every over of the chase.
Season-Defining Numbers
Mandhana finished the WPL 2026 season with:
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377 runs
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Tournament’s highest run-getter
Her performance capped off a record-breaking chase in the final.
Coach Rangarajan: “Inhuman, Elegant, and in Total Control”
Rangarajan struggled to find words to describe the innings, calling it “inhuman” and praising Mandhana’s control and clarity at the crease.
He noted that her final training session before the match was among the best he had seen from her all season.
Mindset Shift Before the Final
The turning point came in RCB’s final league match against UP Warriorz, where Mandhana scored an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls. That innings combined aggression with consistency and set the tone for her approach in the final.
A Student of the Game
Rangarajan described Mandhana as a “feel-based” batter and a “nerd” when it comes to her craft — constantly experimenting with stance, base, and shot selection in pursuit of improvement.
Leading from the Front
Mandhana led by example throughout the season, setting standards in training and match situations. Her understanding with the coaching staff and her role within the team has been central to RCB’s sustained success.
A Final to Remember
After this performance, any suggestion that Smriti Mandhana does not deliver in finals holds little weight. She rose to the biggest occasion and delivered one of the finest innings in WPL history — before celebrating with the now-familiar chant: