The road to the Women’s Premier League 2026 final reaches a critical junction this Tuesday, February 3, as the Delhi Capitals (DC) face off against the Gujarat Giants (GG) at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. For Delhi, this match represents a chance to shed their “perennial bridesmaid” tag after finishing as runners-up in the first three seasons. Meanwhile, the Giants are looking to capitalize on their most successful season yet by securing their first-ever spot in the championship match.
Delhi enters this Eliminator as the only franchise to have qualified for the playoffs in every single WPL season. However, their 2026 campaign has been characterized by a lack of consistency, finishing the league stage with a balanced 4-4 record. In contrast, the Gujarat Giants are the tournament’s “momentum team,” having surged into the knockouts with a three-match winning streak, including a historic first victory over the Mumbai Indians.
Key Matchups and Players to Watch
The battle will likely be decided by a few star performers who have dominated the 2026 season:
- Sophie Devine (GG): The Kiwi veteran has been the tournament’s most valuable all-rounder, leading the wicket-taking charts with 17 scalps while contributing 237 runs.
- Nandani Sharma (DC): Delhi’s primary weapon has been Sharma’s lethal death bowling. She has secured 14 wickets, often striking at the most crucial moments to derail opposition chases.
- The Captaincy Battle: New Delhi skipper Jemimah Rodrigues found her form just in time during the final group match, but she faces a tactical test against Ashleigh Gardner, who has successfully transformed the Giants into a cohesive unit this year.
Road to the Final
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the two squads. The winner of tonight’s clash will move on to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Grand Final on February 5.
| Team | Strength | Key Concern |
| Delhi Capitals | Exceptional death bowling & experience in playoffs. | Inconsistent top-order batting (Shafali Verma). |
| Gujarat Giants | High momentum and Sophie Devine’s peak form. | Historical lack of experience in knockout pressure. |
Probable Playing XIs
Delhi Capitals:
Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Shafali Verma, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani, Minnu Mani.
Gujarat Giants:
Ashleigh Gardner (c), Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
