The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) season is turning into a high-stakes chess match. Following the Delhi Capitals’ commanding seven-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) this past Saturday, the leaderboards for the Orange and Purple Caps have been completely shaken up. With only a handful of runs and wickets separating the world’s best, every single boundary and breakthrough is shifting the landscape of the tournament.
The Orange Cap: A Three-Way Battle at the Top
The race for the most runs in WPL 2026 is currently a “blink and you’ll miss it” affair. Phoebe Litchfield of the UP Warriorz currently holds the prestigious Orange Cap, but her lead is razor-thin. Litchfield sits at the summit with 243 runs, though she now has several heavy hitters breathing down her neck.
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana made a significant jump in the rankings on Saturday. Despite her team’s loss, her resilient knock of 38 runs propelled her to the No. 3 spot. Mandhana now totals 230 runs across six innings, placing her just 13 runs away from the top. Sandwiched between them is Mumbai Indians’ skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who occupies second place with 240 runs.
Further down the list, the competition remains fierce. Delhi Capitals opener Lizelle Lee had a quiet outing, scoring only six, which left her tied for fourth place with Mumbai’s Nat Sciver-Brunt. Both power-hitters remain within striking distance as the tournament enters its business end.
Nandani Sharma Surges Ahead in Purple Cap Standings
While the batters are fighting for every run, the bowlers are engaged in an equally thrilling contest. Delhi Capitals’ seamer Nandani Sharma became the talk of the town on Saturday. Her clinical three-wicket haul against RCB didn’t just secure a win for her team; it catapulted her to the top of the Purple Cap standings.
Sharma currently leads the pack with 13 wickets in six matches. She has established a two-wicket cushion over her nearest rival, Gujarat Giants’ Sophie Devine, who sits at 11 wickets. The middle of the pack is crowded with elite all-round talent, as RCB’s Nadine de Klerk and Mumbai’s Amelia Kerr are currently locked in a stalemate with 10 wickets each.
Rounding out the top five is RCB’s Lauren Bell. Although she struggled to find a breakthrough on Saturday, ending her spell wicketless, she remains a major threat in the competition with nine wickets to her name. With the pitches starting to show more wear and tear, these rankings are expected to fluctuate wildly in the coming week.
