The Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals rivalry has become one of the most fascinating stories in Women’s Premier League history. Although the WPL began only in 2023, these two franchises have already met twice in the final, with both championship matches producing completely different stories.
The first final between RCB and Delhi Capitals came in 2024. Delhi entered the match after finishing at the top of the league table, while RCB reached the championship game through the Eliminator. RCB then produced an outstanding bowling performance before completing a controlled chase to win their maiden WPL trophy.
Two years later, the teams met again in the 2026 final. This time, the match turned into a spectacular high-scoring contest. Delhi scored 203/4, but RCB chased 204 with four wickets remaining to win by six wickets and claim their second WPL championship. The result also meant that Delhi had finished runners-up in every WPL final from 2023 through 2026.
These two finals have therefore become an important part of WPL history.
The Road to Their First Final in 2024
The 2024 season was the second edition of the WPL, and Delhi Capitals entered the final with considerable momentum.
Delhi had performed strongly during the league stage and secured their place in the championship match. RCB, meanwhile, had to navigate the pressure of the knockout stage to reach the final.
The two teams represented contrasting situations. Delhi were looking to convert their strong league campaign into their first championship, while RCB were chasing their first appearance in a WPL final and their first major title.
That difference in experience made the 2024 final particularly significant.
For RCB, it was an opportunity to transform an encouraging season into a historic campaign. For Delhi, it was another chance to establish themselves as the leading team of the young competition.
The 2024 WPL Final
The first RCB-Delhi final took place on March 17, 2024, at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi.
Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to bat first. Their innings began positively, with Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma establishing an aggressive opening partnership. The pair added 64 runs from 43 deliveries, giving Delhi a strong platform during the powerplay.
However, RCB soon found the breakthrough they needed.
Sophie Molineux dismissed Shafali, and the wicket triggered a remarkable collapse. Delhi lost wickets rapidly through the middle of the innings, preventing their early momentum from turning into a large total.
Molineux’s spell became one of the defining performances of the final. Shreyanka Patil also made a major contribution with the ball, finishing with four wickets. Delhi eventually fell to 113 all out in 18.3 overs.
For a team that had started so positively, Delhi’s collapse was a dramatic change in momentum.
RCB’s Chase in 2024
Although 114 was a relatively modest target, the final was not simply a formality for RCB.
The surface offered some assistance to the bowlers, and the pressure of a championship match can influence even experienced batters. RCB therefore approached the chase with a degree of caution.
Smriti Mandhana provided stability at the top of the order, while Sophie Devine contributed 32 runs. Ellyse Perry then remained unbeaten on 35 and helped guide RCB toward the target.
RCB eventually reached 115/2 in 19.3 overs.
The eight-wicket victory gave RCB their first WPL championship. Sophie Molineux was named Player of the Match after her decisive bowling performance.
The result was historic for the franchise.
RCB had entered the WPL in 2023 with significant expectations but failed to reach the playoffs in their first season. One year later, they had gone from a disappointing campaign to becoming WPL champions.
RCB Women’s Road to Two WPL Championships
Why the 2024 Final Was So Important
The 2024 final established several important themes that would later return in the 2026 championship.
First, it showed the importance of bowling under pressure. Delhi had enough batting talent to create a substantial total, but RCB’s bowlers prevented the innings from developing.
Second, it demonstrated RCB’s ability to remain composed in a major chase. Rather than taking unnecessary risks, their batters built the innings around partnerships and controlled the required rate.
Finally, it gave RCB their first WPL title while leaving Delhi with another opportunity to return to the final.
The championship therefore changed the status of both teams. RCB became the second WPL champion after Mumbai Indians, while Delhi had to regroup after another unsuccessful attempt to win the trophy.
The Two Teams Took Different Paths After 2024
The next two seasons produced contrasting outcomes.
Mumbai Indians won the 2025 WPL title, defeating Delhi Capitals in the final by eight runs. RCB finished fourth in the 2025 league table and did not reach the championship match.
Delhi’s continued presence in the final was remarkable. They had now reached the championship match in every season since the WPL began.
RCB, meanwhile, had to rebuild their squad and return to contention.
That set the stage for another meeting between the two franchises in the 2026 final.
RCB’s Journey to the 2026 Final
RCB entered the 2026 season as the defending champions from 2024.
The team had retained a strong core, including captain Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry and Shreyanka Patil. The squad also contained several international and domestic players capable of contributing in different roles.
During the 2026 league stage, RCB produced an impressive run of results and finished at the top of the table.
Their performances were built around a combination of experienced leadership, aggressive batting and a deeper bowling attack.
Smriti Mandhana was particularly influential throughout the season. Her consistency at the top of the order provided RCB with a strong foundation, while players around her offered different forms of acceleration.
By the time the final arrived, RCB had established themselves as one of the strongest sides in the competition.
Delhi’s Road Back to the Final
Delhi’s route to the 2026 final was different.
The Capitals again demonstrated their ability to remain competitive throughout the league stage, but they had to navigate the Eliminator to secure their place in the championship match.
Delhi defeated Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator, chasing 169 successfully to reach another final.
The victory continued an extraordinary sequence. Delhi had now reached every WPL final from 2023 through 2026.
Their consistency was one of the most notable features of the early WPL era.
However, they faced a familiar challenge: turning a final appearance into a championship victory.
The 2026 Final Begins
The 2026 final took place in Vadodara, and it quickly became clear that this would be a completely different contest from the low-scoring 2024 final.
Delhi were sent in to bat first and produced an imposing total of 203/4.
The score was the highest first-innings total in a WPL final at that point, immediately placing RCB under considerable pressure.
Delhi’s innings was built around contributions from several batters.
Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee provided an energetic beginning, while the middle order ensured that Delhi continued scoring at a high rate.
Jemimah Rodrigues was particularly important during the latter part of the innings. Her ability to maintain the scoring tempo helped Delhi finish with a total that appeared extremely challenging.
Jemimah Rodrigues’ Final Contribution
Jemimah Rodrigues played an important role in Delhi’s 2026 final innings.
Her batting provided stability during the middle overs while also allowing Delhi to accelerate toward the end.
Delhi’s total of 203/4 represented a major improvement on their 113 all out in the 2024 final.
That difference illustrated how much the team’s batting had developed over two seasons.
Instead of collapsing under pressure, Delhi maintained their structure and finished with a total that forced RCB to produce an exceptional chase.
RCB’s Record-Breaking Chase
RCB’s response became the defining story of the 2026 final.
Chasing 204 required an average of more than ten runs per over, leaving very little room for a prolonged period of defensive batting.
Smriti Mandhana responded with one of the most important innings of her WPL career.
The RCB captain scored 87 from 41 deliveries, combining aggressive strokeplay with excellent control of the chase. Georgia Voll provided crucial support and scored 79 from 54 balls. Together, they established a massive second-wicket partnership worth 165 runs.
That partnership completely changed the nature of the final.
Delhi had set the highest first-innings total in a WPL final, but RCB’s opening batters responded by taking control of the chase.
Smriti Mandhana’s Captain’s Innings
Mandhana’s 87 was central to RCB’s success.
Her innings allowed RCB to remain ahead of the required rate while preventing Delhi from building sustained pressure.
The importance of her contribution was not limited to the number of runs. As captain, Mandhana had the responsibility of setting the tone for the chase.
Her ability to attack without losing control gave RCB the platform required to chase one of the largest targets in WPL history.
The innings also reinforced Mandhana’s importance to RCB’s WPL identity. She had been the franchise’s marquee signing before the inaugural season and had remained central to its leadership structure.
Georgia Voll’s Breakthrough Performance
Georgia Voll provided the perfect partner for Mandhana.
Her 79 from 54 balls allowed RCB to maintain momentum after the opening stages of the chase.
Rather than simply supporting Mandhana, Voll actively contributed to the pressure being placed on Delhi’s bowlers.
The 165-run partnership between the two batters became the foundation of RCB’s successful chase.
For a young player operating on the biggest stage of the WPL, the performance was particularly significant.
It demonstrated the importance of RCB’s combination of established stars and emerging international talent.
The Final Overs
Delhi’s hopes of defending 203 depended on taking wickets during the middle and final stages.
The Capitals managed to remove key RCB batters, but the damage had already been done.
The huge partnership between Mandhana and Voll meant that the required rate remained manageable.
RCB eventually reached 204/4 in 19.4 overs.
The six-wicket victory completed the second successful WPL championship campaign in RCB’s history.
It also created a remarkable contrast with their 2024 victory.
In 2024, RCB had chased only 114. In 2026, they chased 204.
The two finals demonstrated completely different approaches to winning a championship.
Comparing the Two Finals
The 2024 and 2026 finals are fascinating because of how different they were.
In 2024, Delhi were bowled out for 113 and RCB chased the target without losing many wickets.
In 2026, Delhi produced 203/4, only for RCB to complete the highest successful chase in WPL history.
The 2024 final was dominated by bowlers, particularly Molineux and Shreyanka Patil.
The 2026 final belonged primarily to the batters, with Mandhana and Voll producing the decisive partnership.
The contrast also illustrates how rapidly women’s franchise cricket has evolved within a few seasons.
RCB’s Two Championship Victories Over Delhi
RCB’s two WPL titles have both involved defeating Delhi Capitals in the final.
That creates a unique piece of tournament history.
The first victory came in 2024 when RCB restricted Delhi to 113 before completing an eight-wicket chase.
The second came in 2026 when RCB successfully chased 204 to win by six wickets.
The margins and match conditions were different, but the opponent was the same.
Delhi therefore remain one of the most important opponents in RCB’s championship story.
Delhi’s Remarkable Final Record
Despite losing the 2024 and 2026 finals to RCB, Delhi’s overall WPL final record needs to be viewed in the context of their remarkable consistency.
They reached the championship match in all four seasons from 2023 through 2026.
Their other two final defeats came against Mumbai Indians, who won the 2023 and 2025 championships.
That means Delhi have been the runners-up in every completed WPL season through 2026.
While the franchise has not yet won the title, its repeated final appearances have made it one of the most consistent teams in the competition’s early history.
Key Players Who Shaped the Rivalry
Several players have become strongly associated with RCB’s battles against Delhi.
Smriti Mandhana has been central to RCB’s batting and leadership.
Ellyse Perry played an important role in the 2024 final, remaining unbeaten on 35 as RCB completed the chase.
Sophie Molineux produced the defining bowling performance of the 2024 championship match.
Shreyanka Patil’s four wickets also played a major part in restricting Delhi.
For Delhi, Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma were important contributors in the 2024 final, while Jemimah Rodrigues became a major part of the team’s leadership structure in subsequent seasons.
The 2026 final also showcased the contributions of Lizelle Lee, Shafali and Jemimah in building Delhi’s record total.
A Rivalry Built on Championship Pressure
The RCB-Delhi rivalry is different from a traditional rivalry that develops through dozens of seasons.
Its significance comes from the fact that two of their meetings have already been finals.
That gives the matchup an immediate championship connection.
Whenever the teams meet in the WPL, their previous finals naturally become part of the background. RCB have the memory of two successful championship chases, while Delhi have the experience of repeatedly reaching the final.
Future matches will therefore carry the history of these two major contests.
What the 2026 Final Changed
The 2026 final changed the statistical and historical dimensions of the rivalry.
RCB became the second franchise to win two WPL championships, joining Mumbai Indians.
Delhi, meanwhile, reached their fourth consecutive final.
The match also established a new benchmark for successful WPL chasing. RCB’s 204/4 became the highest successful chase in WPL history, while Delhi’s 203/4 was the highest first-innings total in a WPL final.
Those records ensure that the 2026 final will remain an important reference point when discussing the development of the tournament.
The Tactical Difference Between the Two Finals
The 2024 final demonstrated the value of taking wickets in clusters.
Delhi’s strong start disappeared after Shafali’s dismissal, and RCB capitalized by attacking the middle order. The resulting collapse turned a potentially competitive total into a modest target.
The 2026 final showed the opposite situation.
Delhi kept wickets in hand and built a huge score. RCB responded by attacking the chase rather than allowing the required rate to become overwhelming.
The 165-run partnership between Mandhana and Voll meant Delhi never gained sustained control of the second innings.
These two matches demonstrate how different tactical approaches can determine a final.
The Future of RCB vs Delhi Capitals
The rivalry is still developing.
RCB now have two WPL championships, while Delhi have four final appearances without a title.
Player changes, future auctions and the emergence of new domestic talent will inevitably alter both squads.
However, the championship history between these teams will remain.
RCB have already demonstrated that they can beat Delhi in two very different types of finals. Delhi will continue searching for the breakthrough that has so far remained out of reach.
If the teams meet in another knockout match, their previous finals will inevitably add another layer of interest.
RCB vs Delhi: A Defining WPL Final Rivalry
The RCB versus Delhi Capitals WPL final history may be short, but it is already significant.
Their first championship meeting in 2024 was a low-scoring contest dominated by RCB’s bowlers. Sophie Molineux and Shreyanka Patil dismantled the Delhi batting order before Mandhana, Devine and Perry completed a controlled chase. RCB won by eight wickets and claimed their maiden WPL title.
Their second final in 2026 was completely different. Delhi scored 203/4, but RCB responded with a record-breaking chase led by Mandhana’s 87 and Georgia Voll’s 79. RCB reached 204/4 in 19.4 overs to win by six wickets and secure their second championship.
For RCB, both finals became championship milestones. For Delhi, they became two more chapters in a remarkable sequence of final appearances.
As the WPL continues to grow, the history between these two franchises will remain an important part of the competition’s early era. Two finals have already produced contrasting stories, unforgettable performances and two RCB championships. Any future meeting between RCB and Delhi will carry the weight of that history.
