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The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is reaching a fever pitch as we head into Match 11. It is a heavyweight clash between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). This high-stakes encounter marks the grand finale of the Navi Mumbai leg before the tournament shifts its base to Vadodara on Monday.
What happened in Today, 3:00 pm match? First read our Last Match Highlights article and then watch this preview: [Read Here]"
The Story So Far: Perfection vs. Transition
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are currently the undisputed force of the tournament, sitting comfortably at the top of the points table with three wins in three games. Under the composed leadership of Smriti Mandhana, RCB has displayed a clinical ability to find match-winners in every scenario—be it Nadine de Klerk’s all-round heroics, Grace Harris’s middle-order dominance, or Shreyanka Patil’s recent record-shattering spell.
Conversely, the Delhi Capitals are navigating a testing road under their new captain, Jemimah Rodrigues. Stepping into the shoes of the legendary Meg Lanning, Jemimah became the youngest captain in WPL history at 25 years old. While the Capitals snapped a two-match losing streak with a thrilling last-ball win against the UP Warriorz, they are still searching for the consistency that made them three-time runners-up.
What happened in yesterday's match? First read our Last Match Highlights article and then watch this preview: [Read Here]"
Key Match Stats and Head-to-Head Record
Historically, the Capitals have dominated league-stage encounters, but RCB holds the edge in the most critical moments.
| Category | Delhi Capitals (DC) | RCB Bengaluru (RCB) |
| WPL 2026 Record | 1 Win, 2 Losses | 3 Wins, 0 Losses |
| All-Time H2H Wins | 5 Wins | 2 Wins |
| Current Points | 2 Points | 6 Points |
| Last Season Final | Runner-up | Winner (Beat DC) |
Players to Watch: The Game Changers
1. Shreyanka Patil (RCB)
The off-spinner is in "magical" form, recently registering a five-wicket haul (5/23) against Gujarat Giants—the 4th best figures in WPL history. She now has the joint-most wickets in the season (8 wickets).
2. Laura Wolvaardt (DC)
Signed for INR 1.1 crore, the South African star has been the backbone of DC's batting. She has already amassed 111 runs in just 3 matches, including a blistering 77 off 38 balls.
3. Nadine de Klerk (RCB)
The ultimate "heist" specialist, De Klerk has scored 89 runs at a strike rate of 158.92 and taken 6 wickets. Her 4/26 and unbeaten 63 earlier this season turned a certain defeat into a victory.
4. Jemimah Rodrigues (DC)
The new skipper is known for her ability to handle pressure, with only 35% dot balls faced in her international career. Delhi will rely on her tactical growth to outsmart the high-flying RCB.
Pitch Report: The DY Patil "Belter"
The Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy has been a batter's paradise, with an average first-innings score of 177.44 this season.
The Dew Factor: Expect dew to play a major role in this 7:30 PM start, favoring the team batting second.
Chasing Advantage: Statistically, teams batting second have a 64.2% win rate at this venue in 2026.
Predicted Playing XIs
Delhi Capitals (DC): Lizelle Lee (wk), Shafali Verma, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Chinelle Henry, Marizanne Kapp, Sneh Rana, Niki Prasad, Minnu Mani, Nandni Sharma, Shree Charani.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (c), Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Richa Ghosh (wk), Radha Yadav, Nadine de Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
Conclusion: Can RCB Make it 4-for-4?
RCB enters this clash as the favorite with a 55% win probability, fueled by a perfect winning streak. However, the Delhi Capitals have a history of dominating league-stage battles against the Bengaluru side. If Shafali Verma fires at the top and the DC spinners can contain Mandhana, we might see the first blemish on RCB's perfect record.
Key Player Analysis & Top Picks (Match 11)
Considering the batting-friendly nature of the Navi Mumbai pitch and the current form of the players, here is a balanced selection of top performers for your analysis:
Wicketkeepers: Richa Ghosh (RCB), Lizelle Lee (DC)
Batters: Smriti Mandhana (C), Laura Wolvaardt (VC), Phoebe Litchfield (DC), Jemimah Rodrigues
All-rounders: Nadine de Klerk (RCB), Marizanne Kapp (DC), Grace Harris (RCB)
Bowlers: Shreyanka Patil (RCB), Arundhati Reddy (RCB)
Expert Insight: Shreyanka Patil is a must-watch player for this fixture. Coming off a brilliant 5-wicket haul in her previous outing, her confidence is at an all-time high, making her a massive threat on this surface.
Orange Cap Race: Who is Leading?
The race for the highest run-getter in WPL 2026 is heating up. Today’s heavyweight clash could significantly shift the leaderboard:
| Player Name | Team | Runs Scored | Top Score |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | MI | 181 | 74* |
| Phoebe Litchfield | UPW | 150 | 62 |
| Smriti Mandhana | RCB | 145 | 80* |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | MI | 139 | 70* |
| Laura Wolvaardt | DC | 111 | 77 |
Smriti Mandhana has a golden opportunity tonight. She needs just 37 more runs to overtake Harmanpreet Kaur and claim the prestigious Orange Cap.
Key Milestones to Watch Tonight
Smriti Mandhana: Needs only 5 runs to reach the 150-run mark for the season.
Shafali Verma: If she scores 40+ runs today, she will cross the significant milestone of 800 career runs in the WPL.
RCB's Historic Streak: A victory tonight would make RCB the first team in WPL history to start a season with four consecutive wins.
WPL 2026 Match Summary: [Team A] vs [Team B]
Match Details:
Match No: [e.g., Match 10 or 11]
Venue: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
Toss: [Winning Team] won the toss and elected to [Bat/Bowl]
First Innings: [Team Name]
Total Score: [Runs/Wickets] in [Overs]
Top Batter: [Name] — [Runs] ([Balls])
Key Bowler: [Name] — [Wickets]/[Runs] ([Overs])
Second Innings: [Team Name]
Total Score: [Runs/Wickets] in [Overs]
Top Batter: [Name] — [Runs] ([Balls])
Key Bowler: [Name] — [Wickets]/[Runs] ([Overs])
Match Result: [Winning Team] won by [Margin] Player of the Match: [Player Name]
Milestone Tracker: Did they make it?
Smriti Mandhana: [Reached/Missed] the 150-run mark for the season.
Shafali Verma: [Reached/Missed] 800 WPL career runs.
RCB Winning Streak: [Continued to 4-0 / Ended at 3-1].
Updated Points Table (Night Update)
Note: This table will be finalized after the DC vs RCB game tonight.
| Rank | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| 1 | RCB | 4 | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| 2 | MI | 5 | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| 3 | GG | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -0.319 |
| 4 | DC | 4 | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
| 5 | UPW | 5 | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] | [ ] |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What are the match timings for Saturday, January 17? The double-header starts with UP Warriorz vs. Mumbai Indians at 3:00 PM IST. This is followed by Delhi Capitals vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru at 7:30 PM IST.
Q2: Who is currently leading the Orange Cap race? As of January 17, Harmanpreet Kaur (MI) leads the race with 181 runs. She is closely followed by Lizelle Lee (163 runs) and Phoebe Litchfield (150 runs).
Q3: Which player recently took a 5-wicket haul? Shreyanka Patil (RCB) delivered a career-best performance of 5/23 in 3.5 overs against the Gujarat Giants on Friday night. This was her first-ever five-wicket haul in T20s.
Q4: When is the WPL 2026 moving to Vadodara? The Navi Mumbai leg ends tonight, January 17. The tournament shifts to the BCA Stadium in Vadodara starting Monday, January 19, with Gujarat Giants facing RCB.
Q5: What is the head-to-head record for DC vs RCB? Historically, Delhi Capitals have won 5 out of 7 matches against RCB in the league stages. However, RCB famously won the most crucial battle—the WPL 2024 Final.
| Match | Fixture | Key Player to Watch | Recent Form |
| Match 10 | UPW vs MI | Harleen Deol (UPW) | Fresh off an unbeaten 64* on Thursday. |
| Match 11 | DC vs RCB | Nadine de Klerk (RCB) | Crucial all-rounder with a strike rate of 158.92. |
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