If there was ever a lingering whisper that Smriti Mandhana couldn’t deliver on the biggest stage, those voices have been permanently silenced. In a performance that will go down in T20 history, Mandhana led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second WPL title, dismantling the Delhi Capitals in Vadodara. What makes her match-winning 87 off 41 balls even more legendary is the revelation that she did it while battling a severe case of the flu and a high fever.
The chase of 204 was never going to be easy, but Mandhana’s tactical brilliance and sheer “work ethic”—as head coach Malolan Rangarajan put it—turned a daunting mountain into a walk in the park. Despite her illness, she never let her teammates or the opposition see a flicker of weakness, proving that her leadership is as robust as her cover drive.
Mastering the Chase: Pacing, Precision, and Power
Mandhana’s innings was a masterclass in modern T20 batting. She started with calculated caution, playing the anchor to her Australian partner Georgia Voll. At the end of the fifth over, Mandhana sat at a modest 6 runs off 5 balls. However, once she found her rhythm, the “carnage” began. She specifically targeted Delhi’s spin attack, systematically dismantling Sree Charani’s left-arm spin and leaving DC captain Jemimah Rodrigues without a defensive plan.
The RCB captain was in a “zone” where the laws of physics seemed optional. She was seen backing away to slap short balls through point one moment, and sauntering across her stumps to whip deliveries into the midwicket stands the next. Even the veteran Sneh Rana had no answers. The highlight of the night was Mandhana’s statement loft over wide long-off—an inside-out shot against Rana that signaled the game was well and truly over.
The “Nerd” Behind the Bat: Smriti’s Evolution and the RCB Legacy
According to coach Rangarajan, Mandhana is a self-proclaimed “batting nerd.” Behind the elegant shots is a player obsessed with the “feel” of her game—the way the bat taps, the angle of the swing, and the sound of the ball hitting the middle. This obsession with detail allowed her to “crack the code” just days before the final during a crucial league match against the UP Warriorz.
“She’s always looking to improve, always looking to get better at her skill,” Rangarajan noted, describing her performance as “inhuman” given her physical condition.
By finishing as the top scorer of WPL 2026 with 377 runs, Mandhana has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest to ever play the format. More importantly, she has transformed the RCB culture. For a team and a fan base that lives by the mantra “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (This year the cup is ours), Mandhana has updated the script. For the second time, she led the charge to ensure the cup stayed in Bengaluru, proving that no fever—and no critic—could stand in her way.
