Sourav Ganguly absolutely depressed as WPL, SA20 title hopes buried within days, video goes viral
Published - 06 Feb 2026, 10:41 AM | Updated - 11 Feb 2026, 12:30 PM
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The winter of 2026 could have brought a lot of warmth to Sourav Ganguly. But in reality, it was a cold, harsh truth that left the former India captain like a statue at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), led by Smriti Mandhana, was gliding in joy right in front of his eyes.
In less than a couple of weeks, Sourav Ganguly was hit hard by two defeats in two separate final matches. First, in the final of the SA20 on January 25, and then the WPL 2026 final on February 5, 2026. In both of the summit clashes of two different tournaments, Capitals and Sourav Ganguly were only a step away from claiming the trophies. But they fell short on both occasions.
Moments of disappointment for the Capitals and Sourav Ganguly
The former India captain Sourav Ganguly was there to witness the RCB vs. Delhi Capitals final last night. He and the franchise had high hopes around the Jemimah Rodrigues-led team as they performed with the bat brilliantly, securing 203 for 4 in the first innings of the match. That total was their highest total in a Women’s Premier League (WPL) match and the second-highest by any team in a playoff.
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The skipper, Rodrigues, herself played a blistering 57-run knock with a 154.05 strike rate, well supported by Laura Wolvaardt's 44 and Chinelle Henry's unbeaten 35. Despite the team effort, they left heartbroken.
Smriti Mandhana was the wrecker-in-chief
Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully chased down the total with two more balls to spare. After the match, Jemimah Rodrigues left the field with tears in her eyes. For the fourth consecutive time, Delhi Capitals suffered defeat in a WPL final.
Sourav Ganguly has long been associated with the Delhi Capitals franchise as an integral part of their teams. He was sitting in the gallery, a cast of visible disbelief and sadness on his face. For him, it was very hard to accept the reality that in the two final matches, the Capitals fell behind.
In the WPL 2026 Final match, Smriti Mandhana, the leader of the RCB Women's team, played a match-winning 87-run innings, associated with Georgia Voll's 79. In 19.4 overs, RCB reached the 204-run mark and won the tournament for the second time in its history of the tournament. Mandhana was named the Player of the Match for his commanding batting performance.
Defeat in the SA20 Final as the coach
In SA20, Ganguly was the head coach of the Pretoria Capitals. It was his first stint as a coach. Under his guidance, the team reached the final of the tournament to play against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. The poor batting of the Pretoria Capitals led them to the back seat, allowing their competitor to capture the driving seat.
Sunrisers won the final of the SA20 in 19.2 overs, chasing Capitals' first-innings 158. Ganguly's first season as a full-time coach concluded with utter disappointment.
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Sourav Ganguly Pretoria Capitals Jemimah Rodrigues Smriti Mandhana Royal Challengers Bengaluru WPL Delhi Capitals DC Women RCB Women Royal Challengers Bengaluru WomenAbout the Author
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