The road to the summit clash of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 reached a fever pitch tonight at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. In a high-stakes "win-or-go-home" Eliminator, the Delhi Capitals (DC) faced off against the Gujarat Giants (GG) for the right to challenge the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the grand finale.
Match Context
Gujarat Giants entered the knockout stage as the team to beat, having finished second in the points table with 10 points and a massive wave of momentum following a hat-trick of wins. Conversely, the Delhi Capitals—finalists in all three previous editions—scraped through to the third spot with 8 points, seeking to break their "final over jinx" against a Giants side that had beaten them twice during the league stage.
Toss Update
Laser247 Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss and elected to bowl first. Rodrigues cited the fresh surface and the potential for dew later in the evening as the primary reasons for chasing. Gujarat skipper Ashleigh Gardner noted that her team was comfortable batting first, having won all five of their previous matches this season when setting a target.
Playing XIs
Both teams opted for stability, fielding unchanged lineups from their previous encounters:
Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Georgia Wareham, Bharti Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh.
Delhi Capitals: Lizelle Lee (wk), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani.
Live Score Summary & Key Highlights
1st Innings: Gujarat Giants Batting
The Giants started aggressively but faced early trouble against a disciplined Delhi attack.
Powerplay Drama: Despite a flurry of boundaries from Beth Mooney and Anushka Sharma, the Capitals struck early. Nandani Sharma proved to be the game-changer in the 6th over, removing both Anushka Sharma (16) and the dangerous Ashleigh Gardner (0) in quick succession.
The Catch of the Season: Chinelle Henry pulled off a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Anushka Sharma, a moment that shifted the energy in favor of Delhi.
The Stand: Beth Mooney anchored the innings with a gritty performance, surviving testing spells from Marizanne Kapp.
(Update: The match is currently in progress. Gujarat Giants were 39/3 after 5.3 overs at the last update.)
Players to Watch
Sophie Devine (GG): The current Purple Cap holder with 17 wickets. Her middle-overs spell will be crucial in defending whatever total the Giants post.
Laura Wolvaardt (DC): The leading run-scorer for Delhi. If the target is significant, Wolvaardt's calm presence will be the backbone of the chase.
Nandani Sharma (DC): After her early double-strike, all eyes are on whether she can polish off the tail.
What's at Stake?
The winner of tonight's clash will head to the WPL 2026 Final on February 5 to face Smriti Mandhana’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru. For the Delhi Capitals, it’s a chance to reach a fourth consecutive final; for the Gujarat Giants, it’s an opportunity to reach their first-ever summit clash.
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