In a thrilling display of batting prowess, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made history in the WPL 2026 final, achieving the highest successful chase in the league's history. But here's where it gets controversial... The target of 204 runs against Delhi Capitals (DC) was the highest in a T20 final, women or men, breaking the previous record held by Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 2025 final. And this is the part most people miss... It's also the second-highest in women's T20s, behind the West Indies' 213 in a T20I against Australia in 2023.
RCB's chase was a testament to their resilience and skill. Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll's partnership for the second wicket was the highest for any wicket in the WPL, and also the highest partnership in a women's T20 final. Mandhana's score of 87 against DC is the highest in a WPL playoff, while Voll's 79 is the second-highest. The total runs scored in the final, 407, were the highest aggregate in a knockout match in women's T20s, and the third highest for any WPL game.
RCB batters hit at least one boundary in each of the 20 overs, with the most economical over being the 16th, bowled by Nandani Sharma, yielding only seven runs. Mandhana's runs in four WPL seasons total 1023, making her only the fifth batter to score 1000-plus in the league. She is now the leading run-getter for RCB, surpassing Ellyse Perry's 972.
Mandhana's prowess against DC is particularly notable, as she scored 463 of her runs against them in just ten innings. Against other WPL opponents, she has only 560 from 25 innings with three fifties. This highlights the consistency and dominance of RCB's batting lineup, and the challenge DC faced in containing their powerful hitters. But is this enough to spark a change in the WPL's future dynamics? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
