Delhi Capitals End RCB's Unbeaten Streak with Commanding 7-Wicket Victory in WPL 2026

Delhi Capitals Women delivered a comprehensive bowling performance to defeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women by seven wickets on January 24, 2026, ending RCB's impressive five-match unbeaten run in the Women's Premier League. Marizanne Kapp spearheaded the bowling attack as DC secured their third victory of the season with a dominant all-round display.

Delhi Capitals produced their most complete performance of the WPL 2026 season, dismantling Royal Challengers Bengaluru's formidable lineup to register a convincing seven-wicket victory. The triumph not only secured DC's third win but also dealt a significant psychological blow to RCB, who had entered the match riding high on an undefeated streak spanning five consecutive matches.

RCB had been the tournament's most consistent performers, showcasing balanced team strength across batting, bowling, and fielding departments. Their captain Smriti Mandhana had been in excellent form, nearly scoring the tournament's first-ever century with a 96-run knock against UP Warriorz, while the team had registered dominant victories including back-to-back wins against Gujarat Giants by 32 and 61-run margins.

However, Delhi Capitals arrived with clear strategies to counter RCB's strengths. Their meticulous planning and disciplined execution across all phases of the match proved decisive, demonstrating that even the tournament's most dominant side could be outplayed with proper preparation and superior execution on the day.

Delhi Capitals' bowling unit delivered a clinical performance that set the foundation for their comprehensive victory. The attack worked cohesively, maintaining pressure throughout RCB's innings and creating breakthrough opportunities at crucial moments.

Marizanne Kapp once again proved why she's considered one of women's cricket's premier all-rounders, spearheading the bowling effort with her trademark accuracy and intelligent variations. The South African international controlled the powerplay overs brilliantly, restricting RCB's scoring rate while simultaneously claiming crucial early wickets.

Kapp dismissed Grace Harris and Georgia Voll cheaply, removing two dangerous batters who could have provided explosive starts. Her ability to swing the new ball while maintaining disciplined line and length created constant pressure that prevented RCB's openers from settling into their rhythm.

Perhaps Kapp's most significant moment came when she trapped Smriti Mandhana plumb in front when the RCB captain had scored just 4 runs. The legbefore appeal appeared certain, but Kapp had overstepped the crease, delivering a no-ball that granted Mandhana an unexpected reprieve. This fortunate escape could have changed the match complexion had Mandhana capitalized substantially.

Beyond Kapp's individual brilliance, Delhi's bowling unit demonstrated excellent collective discipline. Bowlers maintained tight lines, gave away few loose deliveries, and supported each other through smart field placements and constant communication. This coordinated approach created sustained pressure that eventually led to RCB's batting collapse.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's innings began with cautious optimism despite challenging conditions. The pitch offered movement that didn't allow easy scoring, requiring batters to work hard for every run while maintaining wickets for later acceleration.

Despite these difficulties, RCB managed a steady start, accumulating 36 runs in the first five powerplay overs without losing wickets. While the scoring rate wasn't explosive, the foundation remained intact with both openers surviving the new ball threat and positioning RCB for middle-overs acceleration.

However, Grace Harris's dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse that RCB never recovered from. The Australian batter, attempting an aggressive shot, mistimed her stroke completely, sending a leading edge that Laura Wolvaardt safely pouched at backward point. This breakthrough changed the match momentum decisively.

What followed was a procession of wickets as RCB's batting lineup crumbled under relentless pressure from Delhi's disciplined bowling attack. Batters who had performed confidently in previous matches suddenly found themselves unable to cope with the movement, variations, and intelligent field placements deployed by DC's captain and bowlers.

The collapse exposed RCB's vulnerability when their top order fails to fire. Despite possessing batting depth, the team couldn't construct partnerships or mount meaningful resistance once the initial damage was inflicted. This comprehensive batting failure stood in stark contrast to their previous dominant performances throughout the tournament.

RCB captain Smriti Mandhana endured one of her most challenging innings of the tournament, struggling for fluency and timing against Delhi's disciplined bowling. The left-handed opener, who had been in sublime form including her near-century against UP Warriorz, found herself completely stifled during the critical early phase.

Mandhana managed just five runs from her first thirteen deliveries—an extraordinarily slow start for a batter renowned for aggressive intent and elegant stroke-play. Delhi's bowlers executed plans perfectly, denying her the width and length she prefers while maintaining relentless pressure through dot balls.

The RCB skipper's fortune changed momentarily late in the third over when she finally found some rhythm, caressing a couple of boundaries that temporarily relieved pressure and suggested she might be finding her groove. This brief period of fluency provided hope that Mandhana could build a substantial innings despite the difficult start.

She followed up by taking apart Nandini Sharma two overs later, striking a couple more boundaries that accelerated RCB's scoring rate. These attacking strokes demonstrated Mandhana's class and ability to dominate even when initially struggling, suggesting RCB might post competitive totals if their captain could continue this momentum.

However, Mandhana's innings never reached the commanding heights of her previous performances. Whether dismissed shortly after gaining momentum or unable to accelerate substantially, her failure to provide the substantial contribution RCB desperately needed proved crucial to their eventual collapse and defeat.

The captain's struggle symbolized RCB's overall batting difficulties—even their most reliable performer couldn't overcome Delhi's comprehensive bowling plans and disciplined execution on this particular day.

Delhi Capitals approached their chase with confidence and composure, having restricted RCB to a below-par total through their excellent bowling performance. The victory margin of seven wickets with balls remaining indicated the comprehensive nature of DC's dominance.

Laura Wolvaardt, having already contributed brilliantly in the field with her catch to dismiss Grace Harris, likely played a significant role with the bat. The South African opener's technical proficiency and ability to anchor innings while maintaining scoring rates makes her invaluable to DC's batting plans.

The chase demonstrated Delhi's batting depth and versatility. Rather than relying on individual brilliance, multiple batters contributed to guide DC toward victory comfortably. This collective approach proved superior to RCB's over-dependence on top-order performances.

DC's victory with seven wickets remaining and overs to spare suggests they dominated the chase from start to finish, never allowing RCB's bowlers to create sustained pressure or threatening situations. This controlled performance reflects excellent planning, execution, and game awareness from the DC batting unit.

This victory propels Delhi Capitals higher in the WPL 2026 standings while simultaneously ending RCB's five-match unbeaten run. For DC, the comprehensive nature of this win—defeating the tournament's most in-form team—provides enormous confidence and validates their capabilities as genuine title contenders.

The morale boost from ending RCB's winning streak cannot be overstated. Delhi has demonstrated they can execute game plans against the tournament's best side, suggesting they possess the quality and temperament for sustained success in remaining matches and potential playoff encounters.

For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, this defeat represents their first setback after dominating proceedings throughout the tournament's opening phase. While one loss doesn't erase their previous excellent performances, it exposes vulnerabilities that other teams will now attempt to exploit.

RCB's coaching staff must address the batting collapse and identify solutions for situations when Smriti Mandhana and the top order struggle. The team's playoff qualification remains likely given their previous performances, but maintaining consistency becomes crucial for securing favorable positions and momentum heading into knockout stages.

Delhi Capitals Women defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women by seven wickets on January 24, 2026, ending RCB's five-match unbeaten run in WPL 2026. Marizanne Kapp led DC's bowling masterclass, dismissing Grace Harris and Georgia Voll while restricting powerplay scoring. Despite Smriti Mandhana's brief resistance after a slow start, RCB collapsed following Harris's dismissal at 36/1. DC chased comfortably with seven wickets remaining, securing their third tournament victory.