RCB vs DC WPL 2026 Final: Mandhana, Voll power RCB to title with commanding chase against DC
Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched the WPL 2026 title with a 204 chase, overcoming Delhi Capitals in a high-pressure final at Vadodara.
The Gujarat Giants registered a commanding 45-run victory over UP Warriorz in the 14th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday, snapping their three-match losing streak and climbing from the bottom of the points table to second place.
Batting first, Gujarat Giants posted 153/8 on a slow surface, riding on a fluent 42-ball fifty from New Zealand all-rounder Sophie Devine. The right-hander struck two fours and three sixes to guide the hosts past the 150-run mark after UP Warriorz’s disciplined bowling had threatened to keep the total in check.
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In reply, UP Warriorz were bowled out for 108 in 17.3 overs as Gujarat’s bowlers delivered a collective effort. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad starred on her return to the XI with figures of 3/16, while Devine chipped in with two wickets to cap an all-round performance.
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UPW’s chase got off to a disastrous start when Kiran Navgire was stumped for a duck off Renuka Singh Thakur. Phoebe Litchfield and Meg Lanning steadied the innings briefly, with the former finding regular boundaries, but Kashvee Gautam broke the partnership by dismissing Lanning for 14. UPW reached 46/2 at the end of the powerplay but failed to build from there.
The middle order collapsed soon after as Litchfield fell for 32, Harleen Deol mistimed a lofted shot to long-on, and Deepti Sharma was trapped lbw by Rajeshwari. Shweta Sehrawat and Asha Sobhana Joy departed cheaply, while Sophie Ecclestone chipped a return catch to Devine. The innings ended when Devine rattled Kranti Gaud’s stumps to seal a comprehensive win.
Earlier in the evening, UP Warriorz won the toss and elected to bowl first. Gujarat’s innings began positively with Beth Mooney and Danni Wyatt-Hodge sharing early boundaries before Kranti Gaud dismissed Wyatt-Hodge. Despite regular wickets, a late flourish of 16 runs off the final over proved decisive in pushing GG to a match-winning total.
Ahead of the contest, Gujarat Giants announced Jintimani Kalita as an injury replacement for Titas Sadhu for the remainder of the tournament.
UPW vs GG WPL 2026: Playing XIs
Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Kanika Ahuja, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwer, Happy Kumari, Renuka Singh Thakur
UP Warriorz: Kiran Navgire, Meg Lanning (c), Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud
UPW vs GG WPL 2026: Full Squad
Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (c), Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh Thakur, Bharti Fulmali, Jintimani Kalita (replacement for Titas Sadhu), Kashee Gautam, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni
UP Warriorz: Meg Lanning (c), Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud, Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G. Trisha, Pratika Rawal, Charli Knott (replacement for Tara Norris)
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