Vadodara (Gujarat), February 4: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana has heaped praise on the team’s uncapped players for their impressive contributions this season, while also highlighting the calming influence of head coach Malolan Rangarajan ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final against Delhi Capitals (DC) on February 5.
RCB, the defending champions, will face a familiar opponent in DC, who are set to play their fourth consecutive WPL final.
🌟 Uncapped Players Stepping Up
Reflecting on the standout moments of the season, Mandhana expressed her delight at seeing young players make an impact on the big stage.
“Gautami becoming the first uncapped player to score a fifty was extremely nice to see. Prema has also really impressed me,” Mandhana said.
She praised Prema Rawat for her all-round abilities despite limited opportunities due to team combinations.
“She’s a gun fielder, an extremely nice leg-spinner, and a very handy batter. Whenever I see her bowl in the nets, she really impresses me,” she added.
🤝 Praise for Nandini Sharma’s Rise
Mandhana also spoke warmly about Nandini Sharma, the leading wicket-taker for Delhi Capitals, recalling her time as an RCB net bowler.
“Nandini has been a net bowler for us over the last two years. I’ve seen how hard she works day in and day out. When I saw her pick up her first five-wicket haul, it genuinely made me very happy,” Mandhana said.
She credited Nandini’s success to her relentless effort and consistency behind the scenes.
🧠 Calm Influence of Head Coach Malolan Rangarajan
Speaking about her relationship with RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan, Mandhana underlined the calmness he brings to the team environment.
“Malo is extremely calm and composed. Whether we were 44 for 4 or completely in control, he’s exactly the same,” she said.
Mandhana added that his composed approach has particularly helped young Indian players settle into pressure situations.
“A lot of the girls have really enjoyed working with him and taken in the calmness he brings. Now our bond is such that we don’t even need to talk—we just understand each other.”
🔥 Final Showdown Awaits
RCB will look to defend their title, while DC aim to finally lift the trophy after finishing runners-up in previous seasons.
📋 Squads for WPL 2026 Final
Delhi Capitals Women Squad
Lizelle Lee (wk), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (captain), Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandini Sharma, Alana King, Taniya Bhatia, Lucy Hamilton, Pragati Singh, Eddla Srujana
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women Squad
Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (captain), Georgia Voll, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Dayalan Hemalatha, Prathyoosha Kumar, Gautami Naik, Prema Rawat
