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Smriti_Mandhana (PC:X) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana credited Lauren Bell for bowling a ‘match-winning’ spell in the high-scoring final of the WPL 2026, which they won by six wickets against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Vadodara. All their bowlers were taken to the cleaners by the DC batters in the first innings, as a total of 203/4 was piled up in the allotted 20 overs. Although Bell did not take a wicket, she was economical in a high-scoring match, conceding just 19 runs from her four overs at an economy rate of 4.75. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Player of the Match Mandhana said: “Yeah, we definitely did think it was a good surface to bat on. But of course, 200-plus in a final is definitely a good score. I thought that in the last four overs, we definitely bowled well and pulled it back a little better. Again, credit to Lauren Bell. I mean, 400 runs in a match and she goes for around 20 runs in four overs. For me, that is the match-wi...

Jemimah_Rodrigues (PC: WPL_BCCI) Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Jemimah Rodrigues thanked the fans and said she was proud of her team’s efforts despite their heartbreaking six-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final of the WPL 2026 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Rodrigues said: “I couldn’t be more proud. To all our DC fans all over the world, thank you so much. Scoring 204 in a final is always a great effort. We have been excellent and, if there was ever a day we wanted our team to fire, it was today. Everyone fought hard and gave it their all, and sometimes that’s all you can ask for. The assessment has been great. To pick yourself up, even as a senior player, is commendable. Nandini has been outstanding and has done more than what we asked of her. Even Minnu has been excellent.” RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first. Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt stitched together a 76-run partnership, laying the foundation...

Smriti Mandhana after the win (Image: WPL) Delhi Capitals’ (DC) wait for their maiden WPL title continued as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated them in the WPL 2026 final in Vadodara. A jam-packed Kotambi Stadium witnessed a thrilling finish as RCB registered a six-wicket win in the final over to clinch their second WPL title. The chase looked like an uphill task, especially after Grace Harris was dismissed early for just nine runs. However, what followed was a batting masterclass from skipper Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll. The Smriti–Voll partnership turned the game completely on its head. During their magnificent 165-run stand off just 92 balls, both batters looked in complete control. They timed the ball beautifully and pierced the gaps with ease. Voll, who had scored only 37 runs in her previous four innings, tore into the DC bowling attack. Along with her conventional strokes, she also brought out a few unorthodox shots to great effect, eventually scoring 79 off 54...

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)_WPL 2026 (PC: BCCI_WPL) The journey to a final is rarely smooth, but for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it has been defined by clarity of roles and impact performances at crucial moments. Three key factors have stood out in shaping their campaign into one worthy of a title shot. Power play Pressure: The New-Ball Blueprint RCB have repeatedly set the tone inside the first six overs. Their new-ball combination has not just hunted wickets but, just as importantly, built relentless dot-ball pressure. In a format where momentum swings rapidly, those quiet overs at the start have forced opposition batters into mistakes. Early breakthroughs have allowed RCB to control the middle phase rather than chase the game. By striking up front, they’ve prevented big platforms and ensured their spinners and change bowlers operate with attacking fields rather than defensive ones. It’s a simple T20 truth, power play wickets win matches and RCB have embraced it better t...

Ravichandran_Ashwin (PC: ICC/X) Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Jos Buttler and Phil Salt will form a deadly opening combination for England in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. “From my side, I would love to see Phil Salt and Jos Buttler open for England because Buttler has huge experience in Asian conditions, and Salt is at the peak of his powers,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. England are in good form in T20Is, having recently whitewashed Sri Lanka 3–0 at home. In the first two matches of that series, Buttler and Salt opened the innings. Both have vast experience of playing in India. Buttler has featured in 22 T20I matches in India, scoring 572 runs in 20 innings at an average of 38.13, including four fifties. The 35-year-old has also been one of the most consistent performers in the IPL, amassing 4,120 runs in 121 matches at an average of 40 across 10 seasons. Meanwhile, Salt has played key roles in Kolkata Knight Riders’ and Royal Challengers ...

Virat, Rohit and Dhoni (PC: X) Former India captain MS Dhoni believes age should not decide the future of a player in any format. Instead, Dhoni feels fitness and performance should be the only criteria in the selection of players for tournaments. At a recent event, when asked whether he sees Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing the 2027 ODI World Cup, Dhoni replied, “For me, age is not a criterion. Performance and fitness are the criteria. I always feel nobody should be told anything. But it should be clear that everyone will be treated the same way.” Both Virat and Rohit have retired from Tests and T20Is, but the duo is actively playing ODI cricket. Virat has scored 14,797 runs in 311 ODI matches, while Rohit has amassed 11,577 runs from 282 matches. Dhoni, who led India to multiple ICC titles, pointed out that age was never discussed when he started his career. “When I made my debut, I was 24, nobody told me anything. And now when I’ve played for India for 10 years, 20 years o...