WPL 2026: Delhi Capitals Opt to Bowl Against RCB as Jemimah Rodrigues Makes Two Key Changes

In the ongoing Women's Premier League 2026, Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss and opted to field first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Vadodara on Saturday. This decision continues the trend established across the first 14 matches of the tournament, where teams winning the toss have consistently chosen to chase.

Toss Decision: Dew Factor Remains Crucial

Rodrigues cited the dew factor as the primary reason behind her decision to bowl first, despite the match being played on a fresh pitch in Vadodara. The Capitals skipper acknowledged that the ball "might come on slightly better on this pitch," suggesting conditions could favor batters, but the evening dew continues to influence captains' decisions at the toss.

Delhi Capitals Make Two Forced and Tactical Changes

The Capitals made two changes to their playing XI for this crucial encounter:

Chinelle Henry Returns

West Indies allrounder Chinelle Henry replaced Lucy Hamilton in the lineup, bringing additional depth to the Capitals' middle order and bowling options.

Minnu Mani Steps In for Injured Deeya Yadav

Minnu Mani returned to the side in place of Deeya Yadav, who was ruled out of the tournament on Friday due to a back injury. This is a significant blow for Delhi, losing a key player mid-tournament.

RCB Welcome Back Fit-Again Arundhati Reddy

Royal Challengers Bengaluru made one change to their squad, bringing back seamer Arundhati Reddy, who has recovered from her fitness concerns. She replaced Prema Rawat in the XI. RCB enter this match as the only team to have secured their place in the knockouts, and they are just one win away from confirming their spot in the final.

Previous Encounter: RCB's Dominant Victory

When these two teams met earlier in WPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a comprehensive performance, defeating Delhi Capitals by eight wickets. Chasing 167, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana came agonizingly close to what would have been the first-ever WPL century, falling just four runs short of the historic milestone.

Playing XIs

Delhi Capitals

• Shafali Verma
• Lizelle Lee (wk)
• Jemimah Rodrigues (c)
• Laura Wolvaardt
• Marizanne Kapp
• Niki Prasad
• Chinelle Henry
• Minnu Mani
• Sneh Rana
• Shree Charani
• Nandani Sharma

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

• Grace Harris
• Smriti Mandhana (c)
• Georgia Voll
• Gautami Naik
• Richa Ghosh (wk)
• Radha Yadav
• Nadine de Klerk
• Sayali Satghare
• Shreyanka Patil
• Arundhati Reddy
• Lauren Bell

What This Match Means for Both Teams

For RCB, a victory would seal their place in the WPL 2026 final, capping off a dominant league stage campaign. For Delhi Capitals, this match represents a crucial opportunity to bounce back and keep their playoff hopes alive, despite the setback of losing Deeya Yadav to injury.

Looking Ahead

With the tournament entering its business end, both teams will be looking to execute their plans effectively. RCB's batting firepower, led by Smriti Mandhana and supported by the likes of Grace Harris and Richa Ghosh, will test the Capitals' bowling attack. Meanwhile, Delhi's star-studded lineup featuring Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, and Marizanne Kapp possesses the quality to challenge any opposition.