If there were lingering whispers about it Smriti Mandhana flattered on the biggest stage, they definitely rested Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final. Battling a severe flu, Mandhana produced one of the best knocks of his career to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second WPL title with 87 off just 41 balls.
Chasing a daunting target of 204 against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Vadodara, Mandhana’s composure and controlled aggression proved crucial as RCB sealed the final with a six-wicket win.
RCB coach revealed that Smriti Mandhana is playing despite being seriously ill
RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan further revealed the extent of Mandhana’s struggle by describing as “massive, massive flu”. Speaking after the victory, Rangarajan said that the captain was suffering from high fever but never showed it.
“He was seriously ill.” Rangarajan explained. “But he came and didn’t show it for a second. When I talked to him earlier, he just said it was no problem and he’d be there. That’s his work ethic.”
The revelation only added to the scale of Mandhana’s innings, which was under immense pressure in the season’s grandest phase.
A master class on running under pressure
Even by Mandhana’s lofty standards, the finale was a lesson in how to pace a high-stakes chase. He started off cautiously, playing second fiddle to the Australian leanings Full Georgiabefore changing gears dramatically after the powerplay.
At the end of the fifth ball, Mandhana was just 6 off 5 balls. Then he just dominated. He dismantled Delhi’s spin attack with surgical precision, from angles and field placements with ease. RCB’s only left-handed batsman, Mandhana targeted the left-arm spinner Sree CharaniVadodara neutralized the bowler with high impact through leg.
The ability to send similar supplies to different parts of the world forced the opposition to seek answers.
Delhi Capitals bowlers run out of answers
Seasoned campaigner Sneh Rana also struggled to contain Mandhana, who appeared to be in complete control. RCB hit at least one boundary from each side, highlighting the relentless pressure applied in the chase.
Mandhana’s confidence was summed up by her bold strokeplay – lofted back to the inside-off spinners and casually darted between her stumps to find the spaces she wanted. He finished the tournament as the leading run-scorer in WPL 2026, scoring 377 runs.
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“Smriti saved one of her best knocks for the final”: RCB coach
Rangarajan appreciated Mandhana’s preparation and evolving mindset for her recent heroics. He noted that his unbeaten 54 against the UP Warriors (UPW) in his last league game was a turning point as he combined the high-pace sequence.
“He saved one of his best shots for the final” Rangarajan said. “He was in complete control, knowing exactly where and when to attack.”
Behind the scenes, Mandhana’s relentless pursuit of improvement was evident. described as “nerd” about his stroke, he is constantly changing his technique, always looking for marginal gains. Attention to detail, along with calm leadership, set the tone for RCB’s title-winning campaign.
This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
