WPL 2026: RCB head coach reveals how Smriti Mandhana overcame high fever to play match-winning finale knock

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women’s skipper Smriti Mandhana’s innings in the Women’s Premier League 2026 final will be remembered not just for the runs she scored, but for the circumstances under which they came. Battling a 103°F fever in the eleventh hour ahead of the biggest game of the season, the captain produced one of the most iconic performances in WPL history to lead her side to a historic second title win.

According to a video posted by the franchise on social media, Mandhana was struggling with a high fever on the eve of the game. By D-Day, she walked out to bat in the final and delivered a match-winning 87 off just 41 balls, earning the Player of the Match award and scripting a remarkable turnaround within a span of less than twenty-four hours.

“She was seriously unwell with a high fever. But to turn up, not even show it, nobody in the team [knew] … for one second also didn’t show it. That’s the person Smriti is. When I spoke to her this afternoon, she said, ‘Nahi, Malo, koi problem nahi (there’s no problem), I’ll be there.’ So that’s her with her work ethic,” head coach Malolan Rangarajan told in the video.

Watch the full video here:

The final itself was a high-scoring thriller. Batting first, Delhi Capitals posted a daunting total of 203, built on strong contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues, Laura Wolvaardt and Chinelle Henry. The pressure was firmly on RCB when they began the chase, and it intensified further after the early dismissal of Grace Harris for just nine runs.

What followed was a captain’s knock in the truest sense. Mandhana, alongside Georgia Voll, absorbed the pressure and turned the momentum decisively. Voll played a vital supporting role with 79 off 54 balls, while the RCB skipper took control of the chase with her aggressive intent and clean striking. Together, they dismantled the Delhi bowling attack and guided RCB to a six-wicket victory in a chase that never looked straightforward on paper.

The left-handed batter captained the side for the full 20 overs and anchored the chase with composure, clarity and authority, delivering what is now regarded as one of the finest innings in WPL finals history.

The triumph marked RCB’s second WPL title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2024. With the 2026 win, they are now joint-most successful in the league alongside the Mumbai Indians, both teams boasting two titles each.

Capping off a memorable season, Mandhana also claimed the Orange Cap, surpassing Nat Sciver-Brunt and Harmanpreet Kaur, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 377 runs in nine matches at an average of 53.85.