103° fever! Smriti Mandhana risked her life for WPL 2026 glory, reveals RCB coach

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women’s head coach Malolan Rangarajan showered praise on captain Smriti Mandhana after the WPL 2026 final win over Delhi Capitals. The head coach revealed that Smriti played the match while battling a “massive flu” and produced a match-winning performance.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals by six wickets in the WPL 2026 final at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday, February 5. Smriti scored 87 off 41 balls as RCB chased down a target of 204 in 19.4 overs, completing the highest successful run chase in WPL history and winning their second title.

Smriti Mandhana Leads RCB to Second WPL Title

RCB chose to bowl first after winning the toss and conceded 203 runs in their 20 overs. Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues scored 57 off 37 balls, while Laura Wolvaardt made 44 off 25 and Chinelle Henry added an unbeaten 35 off 15.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

In the chase, RCB lost Grace Harris early for nine. Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll then steadied the innings and took control of the match. Voll scored 79 off 54 balls, and RCB held their nerve despite late hiccups to reach the target.

Mandhana became the first captain in WPL history to win both the Orange Cap and the title. She finished the season with 377 runs in nine innings at an average of 53.85 and a strike rate of 153.25, including three half-centuries.

Mandhana also became the first RCB batter to cross 1,000 runs in the WPL. She has scored 1,023 runs in 35 matches at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 136.76, with seven half-centuries.

Smriti Mandhana Was At 103 Last Evening - Malolan Rangarajan

In a video shared by RCB on X, Malolan Rangarajan revealed that Smriti Mandhana was unwell the night before the match but still made every effort to recover in time. He added that Mandhana pushed herself to be fit and available for the team without making any complaints.

"Smriti, thank you so much for being such a wonderful captain and for turning up for this game without any complaints. I know how ill you were last night and the effort you put in. For people who didn’t know, she was at 103 last evening, and she did everything she could behind the scenes to be fully fit and available for us. So thank you, Smriti."

Captain Smriti battled overnight fever to lead from the front and play that match winning knock… 🫡

Head Coach Malo’s words for 3 special players - Shreyanka, Pooja & Sayali, brought smiles on everyone’s faces… 🥹

A message for the next season and more from the dressing room.… p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->W<!---->6<!---->T<!---->o<!---->n<!---->i<!---->L<!---->5<!---->I<!---->I

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) F<!---->e<!---->b<!---->r<!---->u<!---->a<!---->r<!---->y<!----> <!---->6<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->6

RCB Fans Are The Best In The World - Smriti Mandhana

At the post-game presentation, Smriti Mandhana thanked Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans, calling them the best in the world and crediting them for backing the team everywhere. Mandhana added that winning three titles, including the men’s title, in three years was a special achievement.

"Very pleased. RCB fans, I feel, are the best in the world. Wherever we play, we get support. Whatever we do is for them. Three titles in three years for the franchise, it is amazing," the left-hander said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Also read: Naveen-ul-Haq vs Rahmanullah Gurbaz! Internal fight erupts in Afghanistan camp before T20 World Cup 2026