Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s dream run culminated in a six-wicket demolition of Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2026 final, securing back-to-back aspirations fulfilled with their second crown. At the heart of this triumph was Smriti Mandhana, whose tournament-long brilliance peaked in a final innings that rewrote the record books.
Facing early pressure, Mandhana and Georgia Wareham scripted magic with 87 (41 balls) and 79 respectively, forging a 165-run stand that stands as WPL’s highest for any wicket, the first ton-plus in a final, and tops in women’s T20 finals. Mandhana’s knock eclipsed Harmanpreet Kaur’s 66 from 2025 as the best final score ever.
She raced to fifty in 23 balls, the fastest in WPL playoffs and her quickest league half-century. Over nine matches, her 377 runs at 53.85 average and 153.25 strike rate clinched the Orange Cap, second only to the all-time best single-season haul. She crossed 1,000 WPL runs (fifth overall), became RCB’s top scorer, and holds the record for most century partnerships (six).
This wasn’t mere statistics; it was a statement of supremacy. RCB’s title defense – or rather, conquest – highlights the depth in women’s cricket, with Mandhana emerging as the undisputed queen of the league.