Delhi Capitals (DC) secured their place in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 playoffs after a decisive victory over the UP Warriorz in the final match of the league stage. Led by captain Jemimah Rodrigues, the Capitals successfully chased down a target of 123 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, finishing with a five-wicket win. This crucial result moved them to eight points, allowing them to clinch the third spot in the standings and finalize the playoff bracket.
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Delhi Capitals seal IPL 2026 playoff berth
With this win, the Capitals are set to face the Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator, scheduled for February 3. The winner of that high-stakes encounter will advance to the grand final on February 5, where the table-topping Royal Challengers Bengaluru—who secured direct entry after a dominant league phase—await their opponent.
The Capitals' triumph simultaneously ended the campaign for the defending champion Mumbai Indians. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai was left relying on a UP Warriorz victory to remain in the competition; however, the Capitals' clinical performance ensured they leapfrogged Mumbai on the points table, knocking the reigning title-holders out of the tournament.
In a pursuit of 123, DC successfully reached 126/5, though the chase was far more turbulent than the final score suggests. The team appeared to be cruising at 84/1 before a sudden middle-order collapse saw them slip to 101/5, injecting late drama into the contest. Despite the wobble, captain Jemimah Rodrigues provided the finishing touch with a composed, unbeaten 34 off just 18 balls, hitting five boundaries to secure the win alongside Niki Prasad.
The foundation for the chase was laid by a solid 73-run partnership between Laura Wolvaardt and Shafali Verma. After losing Lizelle Lee early for 10, Wolvaardt anchored the innings with a top score of 47 off 36 balls, while Verma played a more uncharacteristic, patient knock of 29. Their disciplined recovery put Delhi in a position of total control, having earlier restricted the UP Warriorz (UPW) to a modest 122/8.
The UP Warriorz struggled to defend their low total despite having world-class spin options at their disposal. Sophie Ecclestone turned in an economical spell of 1/20, and Deepti Sharma took 2/27, momentarily sparking hope of a miraculous comeback as the Capitals lost wickets in a flurry near the finish line. However, the lack of scoreboard pressure ultimately cost them.
With the game hanging in the balance during the penultimate over, Jemimah Rodrigues effectively ended the contest. She struck two consecutive boundaries off Deepti Sharma to calm the nerves in the Delhi dugout and thwart any chance of a late upset. The victory ensures DC moves forward with momentum, while UPW was left lamenting a total that was simply too small to defend.
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Marizanne Kapp-Chinelle Henry do the trick for DC
DC's bowling unit, spearheaded by Marizanne Kapp and Chinelle Henry, laid the groundwork for their victory by stifling the UP Warriorz's batting lineup. Kapp was particularly lethal, returning figures of 3/30 by dismissing key players Deepti Sharma, Charli Knott, and the dangerous Deandra Dottin. Henry provided excellent support with 2/25, ensuring that the Warriorz were restricted to a meager total of 122/8.
The innings got off to a disastrous start for the Warriorz as their captain, Meg Lanning, was dismissed on the very first ball. This early blow set a negative tone for the side, which struggled to build any significant momentum. While Deepti Sharma attempted to ignite the innings from the top of the order with a quick-fire 24 off 19 balls—including four boundaries and a six—her efforts were cut short before a substantial partnership could form.
As wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, Simran Shaikh provided a brief spark of resistance, striking a brisk 22 off 14 deliveries. However, just as she threatened to shift the pressure back onto the bowlers, she was dismissed by Henry at a critical juncture. It was only through a late, unbeaten cameo of 23 from Shikha Pandey that the Warriorz were able to cross the 120-mark.