Another Women’s Premier League final, another painful night for Delhi Capitals. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru celebrated a historic title win in the 2026 WPL final, DC were left to confront a familiar feeling, coming agonisingly close, yet falling short once again.
The six-wicket defeat in Vadodara marked the fourth time Delhi Capitals have finished runners-up in a WPL final, making them only the second women’s franchise team after Brisbane Heat to endure such a run. And yet, despite the heartbreak, head coach Jonathan Batty chose pride over despair as he reflected on a campaign defined by resilience, growth, and fine margins.
Delhi Capitals entered the final carrying momentum from a strong Eliminator performance and backed it up with the bat, posting 203 for 4, the highest first-innings total at the venue. At the halfway stage, Batty felt his side had done enough to apply serious pressure. “Twenty overs in, you think you’ve got a really good score on the board,” Batty said. “If we bowled well, we felt we had a very good chance.”
That belief, however, was undone by a match-defining partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll, whose record stand powered RCB to a memorable chase. Despite the disappointment, Batty was quick to acknowledge the quality of the opposition. “Full credit to RCB. Those two batters played absolutely fantastically,” he admitted.
For Batty, the narrow loss with DC still in contention until the final over, mirrored the team’s overall campaign. “I think the game summed up our season,” he reflected. “We did certain bits really well, and other bits fell away at times. But to still be in the game, to be fighting right until the last over, showed a lot of heart.”
With just two balls remaining when the match slipped away, the Capitals were left with the cruel reality of T20 cricket, where momentum can shift in an instant and margins are razor-thin. “In these games, one or two dot balls and the pressure changes completely,” Batty said. “The game is never done.”
Asked if Delhi could have altered their approach, Batty was firm in his belief that the team had little to regret, particularly with the ball. “Our bowling unit has been excellent throughout the tournament,” he said. “Sometimes batters of that quality just play really, really well.”
One of the biggest positives for Delhi Capitals this season was the emergence of Jemimah Rodrigues as a leader. Taking over captaincy duties after a challenging start to the campaign, Jemimah responded with composure and maturity. “I’m hugely proud of Jemi,” Batty said. “She was under pressure early on, but her leadership grew with every game.”
Beyond her tactical decisions, Jemimah also delivered with the bat in crucial moments, playing a key role in DC’s late-season surge. “She threw her heart and soul into this season,” Batty added. “I’m excited to see where she takes that leadership in the coming years.”
Despite another final defeat, Batty remains convinced that Delhi Capitals are on the right path. “We’re clearly doing something right if we’re reaching four finals in a row,” he said. “If you keep putting yourself in finals, you will win one.”
For DC, the wait continues. But so does the belief that persistence, patience, and heart will eventually turn silver into gold.
