If there was a faint whisper about it Smriti Mandhana Faltering on the biggest stage, he was emphatically silenced Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Final. Battling severely with flu, Mandhana produced one of the finest innings of her career to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to their second WPL title with a brilliant knock of 87 runs in just 41 balls.
Chasing a challenging target of 204 against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Vadodara, Mandhana’s composure and controlled aggression proved decisive as RCB clinched the final with a six-wicket win.
RCB coach reveals, Smriti Mandhana played despite serious illness
RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan Later revealed the extent of Mandhana’s struggle, described “Massive, massive flu.” After the win, Rangarajan said that the captain was suffering from high fever but he never let it be known.
“She was seriously unwell,” Rangarajan explained. “But she came over and wasn’t seen for a second. When I talked to her earlier, she just said there was no problem and she would be there. That’s her work ethic.”
This revelation further increased the size of Mandhana’s innings, which was under a lot of pressure on the grandest stage of the season.
A masterclass in stalking under pressure
Even by Mandhana’s lofty standards, the final was a lesson in how to chase big bets. He started cautiously while playing the second innings facing the Australian batsman georgia volumeBefore changing gears dramatically after the powerplay.
At the end of the fifth over, Mandhana was out after scoring only 6 runs in 5 balls. What happened next was sheer dominance. He dismantled Delhi’s spin attack using surgical precision, angles and field placement with ease. As RCB’s only left-handed batsman, Mandhana targets left-arm spinner SricharaniNeutralizing a bowler who was highly effective during the Vadodara leg.
His ability to send similar deliveries to different parts of the ground left the opposition scrambling for answers.
Delhi Capitals bowlers have no answer
Veteran campaigner Sneh Rana also had to struggle to contain Mandhana, who appeared to be in complete control. RCB hit at least one four in every over, underscoring the relentless pressure they applied during the chase.
Mandhana’s confidence was summed up by her audacious stroke play – stepping back to bowl the spinners in and out and casually stepping onto her stumps to find the gaps at will. He finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer in WPL 2026 with 377 runs.
Also read: From MVP to Purple Cap – Complete list of WPL 2026 award winners and prize money
“Smriti saved one of her best innings for the final”: RCB coach
Rangarajan credited Mandhana’s preparation and evolving mindset for her final heroics. He said his unbeaten 54 against UP Warriors (UPW) in the final league game proved to be a turning point, blending high pace with consistency.
“He saved one of his best innings for the final,” Rangarajan said. “She seemed to be in complete control, she knew where and when to attack.”
Behind the scenes, Mandhana’s continuous efforts to improve came to the fore. is described as a “nerd” Regarding her batting, she constantly changes her technique and is always looking for marginal gains. Attention to detail and calm leadership laid the foundation for RCB’s title-winning campaign.
This article was first published here WomenCricket.comA Cricket Times Company.
