Delhi Capitals secured their place in the playoffs of the Women's Premier League (WPL) with a commanding nine-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 1, 2025, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This victory marked the fifth win for the Capitals out of seven matches, solidifying their top position on the points table.
The Capitals showcased remarkable all-round performance, effectively silencing the home crowd, which was rallying for RCB throughout the game. Chasing down the target of 148 runs, the Capitals cruised to victory with 27 balls to spare, underscoring their dominance with both bat and ball.
After electing to bat first, RCB had initially looked set for a decent total, racing to 45 runs within the first six overs. But the innings suffered early blows, particularly with the disappointing performance from Smriti Mandhana, who was dismissed cheaply once again, contributing only 2 runs. The pressure was visibly mounting when Shikha Pandey dismissed Mandhana, leaving the team searching for stability.
Ellyse Perry emerged as RCB’s savior, anchoring the innings with her strategic risk-taking, eventually scoring 60 not out off 47 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Perry’s partnership with Raghvi Bist, who managed 33 runs, helped RCB reach 147 for 5 by the end of their innings, but it was clear they had missed the mark, especially with the other middle-order batters failing to capitalize.
On the bowling front, Pandey proved her worth for the Capitals, claiming two wickets for 28 runs, alongside Nallapureddy Charani, who also secured two wickets. The duo’s efforts were instrumental attesting to the effectiveness of the Capitals' bowling attack, which consistently put pressure on RCB's batters.
When it came time for the chase, the Capitals faced early turbulence with skipper Meg Lanning falling for just 2 runs, caught by Perry after taking a beautiful catch off Renuka Singh’s bowling. Yet, Shafali Verma quickly took charge of the innings, showcasing her skills magnificently. Verma's fierce hitting allowed the Capitals to recover swiftly, and she finished with 80 runs from only 43 balls, resulting in her first half-century of the season, punctuated by eight fours and four sixes.
Jess Jonassen, who was moved up the batting order, complemented Verma effectively. The duo stitched together a whopping 146-run partnership for the second wicket, demonstrating their batting prowess by keeping the RCB bowlers on their toes. Jonassen contributed equally, remaining unbeaten at 61 runs off 38 balls, which featured nine boundaries and one six.
Following their combined efforts, Shafali expressed her joy for the team's win: "Feels good to have won it for the team. I feel very happy when the team wins. I wanted to stay calm and keep talking to my partner." She also acknowledged how the moderate target allowed them to play strategically, avoiding unnecessary pressure during their innings.
The victory not only sealed Delhi Capitals' playoff berth but served as payback against RCB, frustrating the defending champions, who have now suffered their fourth consecutive defeat. This performance also emphasized the Capitals' intent on going for the title, having reached the finals twice previously but failing to clinch the championship.
The WPL format dictates the top team at the end of the group stage will advance directly to the final, with second and third place fighting it out for another spot. With their consistent form, the Capitals look poised as the favorites to secure their first WPL title, especially after this emphatic win.
RCB, languishing fourth on the table, now faces mounting pressure to improve their standings, as they have only won two games out of six. The team will need to regroup to salvage their season and avoid the embarrassment of failing to make the playoffs.
With the playoffs now within reach for the Capitals, fans eagerly await to see whether they can finally lift the trophy this season, overcoming their previous disappointments.