Gujarat Giants Women vs Delhi Capitals Women WPL 2026 Eliminator saw Delhi Capitals deliver a dominant all-round show to win by 7 wickets with 26 balls to spare. Chasing 169, DCW’s explosive batting led by Lizelle Lee, Shafali Verma, and captain Jemimah Rodrigues sealed their fourth consecutive final spot. They now face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL 2026 final on February 5 at Vadodara.
This knockout clash at BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara, lived up to the high stakes. Delhi ended Gujarat’s season despite Beth Mooney’s fighting knock. DCW’s bowlers set the platform, and their batters chased with authority.
Match Snapshot
- Toss — Delhi Capitals Women won and elected to bowl
- Venue — BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara
- Result — Delhi Capitals Women won by 7 wickets (26 balls remaining)
- Player of the Match — Jemimah Rodrigues (41 off 23 balls)
- Date — February 3, 2026
Delhi’s chase was clinical from ball one. Their powerplay dominance flipped the game. Gujarat fought hard but couldn’t defend on a tricky surface.
Match Details and Toss: A Game-Changing Call
Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss and chose to bowl first. Gujarat had won all five games batting first this season, including both league wins over Delhi. Yet, Rodrigues backed her bowlers on a pitch with early movement and slow bounce.
The Kotambi surface helped seamers initially but slowed down. 168 proved gettable with aggressive batting. Delhi’s decision paid off as they restricted Gujarat early and chased comfortably.
GG Batting First Record in WPL 2026
| Scenario | Matches | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting First | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Batting Second | – | – | – |
Delhi’s choice exploited conditions perfectly.
Gujarat Giants Innings: Early Woes and Mooney’s Heroics
Gujarat started strong in powerplay but lost wickets cheaply. They scored 48/3 in the first 6 overs — joint-lowest powerplay this season.
Sophie Devine fell early to Chinelle Henry — a sensational one-handed catch by Lizelle Lee at keeper. Henry swung one away late to square up Devine.
Nandani Sharma struck twice in the sixth over. She removed Anushka Sharma (caught at mid-on) and Ashleigh Gardner (thick edge to slip) off consecutive balls. This made Nandani the leading Indian wicket-taker in a WPL season (16 wickets).
Minnu Mani stumped Kanika Ahuja. Gujarat slumped to 59/4. A 33-ball boundary drought followed.
Beth Mooney and Georgia Wareham rebuilt. Their 61-run stand revived hope. Wareham hit boundaries and a six. Mooney accelerated late.
Henry returned in the 17th over to remove Wareham (caught at deep cover) and Bharti Fulmali (bowled for 0).
Mooney stayed calm. She hit six boundaries in the last three overs with Kashvee Gautam. Her unbeaten 62 off 51 balls lifted Gujarat to 168/7 — their lowest against Delhi this season but above par.
Gujarat Giants Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Mooney (wk) | 62* | 51 | 6 | 0 | 121.57 |
| Georgia Wareham | 35 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Kashvee Gautam | 18 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 180.00 |
| Anushka Sharma | 16 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 123.08 |
| Sophie Devine | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Kanika Ahuja | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Others | – | – | – | – | – |
Extras: 25 (w 19, lb 6)
Total: 168/7 in 20 overs (RR: 8.40)
Delhi Capitals Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinelle Henry | 4 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 8.75 |
| Nandani Sharma | 4 | 0 | 44 | 2 | 11.00 |
| Minnu Mani | 4 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 5.75 |
| Marizanne Kapp | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 |
Fall of wickets showed top-order collapse: 9/1, 38/2, 38/3, 59/4.
Delhi Capitals Chase: Shafali-Lee Fireworks and Classy Finish
DCW raced to 75/0 in powerplay — highest of the match. Lee and Shafali hammered loose balls.
They added 89 in 43 balls. Shafali punished Devine (17-run over with byes and wides). Lee survived an early review.
A 21-run over off Renuka Singh pushed DCW to 64 in 5 overs.
Wareham struck twice in the eighth over: Lee lbw (43 off 24, 8 fours, 1 six), Shafali bowled (31 off 21, 7 fours).
Rodrigues and Wolvaardt calmed nerves. Their 68-run stand sealed it. Rodrigues smashed a six off Gardner. Wolvaardt lofted Gayakwad for six elegance.
Rodrigues fell for 41 off 23 (c Devine b Gayakwad). Kapp finished with a boundary off Wareham.
Delhi Capitals Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lizelle Lee (wk) | 43 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 179.17 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues (c) | 41 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 178.26 |
| Laura Wolvaardt | 32* | 24 | 2 | 1 | 133.33 |
| Shafali Verma | 31 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 147.62 |
| Marizanne Kapp | 4* | 3 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
Extras: 18
Total: 169/3 in 15.4 overs (RR: 10.79)
Key Partnerships
- 89 (Lee-Shafali)
- 68 (Wolvaardt-Rodrigues)
Gujarat Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Wareham | 3.4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 7.60 |
| Rajeshwari Gayakwad | 3 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 11.00 |
Powerplay: 75/0 vs Gujarat’s 48/3 — massive difference.
Standout Performances That Defined the Game
Jemimah Rodrigues — PoM for 41 off 23. Her fearless approach post-wobble steered DCW home. Season showed leadership growth.
Beth Mooney — 62* off 51. Anchored amid collapse. Showed class under pressure.
Chinelle Henry — 3/35. Key early wickets and catch. Her swing troubled top order.
Lizelle Lee & Shafali Verma — 89-run blitz. Set platform with 15 boundaries combined.
Georgia Wareham — 35 + 2/28. Brief hope with ball and bat.
Nandani Sharma’s record (16 wickets by Indian) added milestone.
Powerplay Comparison
| Team | Powerplay Score | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | 48/3 | 3 |
| Delhi | 75/0 | 0 |
Boundaries: Delhi hit 22 fours + 3 sixes vs Gujarat’s 15 fours + 1 six.
For more visit ESPNcricinfo.
Tactical Breakdown and Pivotal Moments
- Toss and bowl first — Rodrigues exploited conditions.
- Early wickets by Henry & Sharma — Top-order exposed.
- Mooney-Wareham stand — Revived innings to 120/5.
- Shafali-Lee powerplay assault — Killed contest early.
- Wareham double strike — Only flicker of hope.
- Rodrigues-Wolvaardt calm — No panic chase.
- Death overs batting — Mooney’s late surge not enough.
DCW’s varied attack (pace + spin) controlled phases. Fielding slips hurt Gujarat.
Run rates: DCW middle overs efficient vs Gujarat’s struggle.
Historical Context and Bigger Picture
Delhi reached fourth straight final — unmatched consistency. They chase first WPL title after near-misses.
Gujarat exit despite strong batting-first record. Top-order issues persisted. Mooney’s form bright spot.
Head-to-head: Delhi’s first win over Gujarat this season after three losses.
Emerging stars like Nandani Sharma and Minnu Mani shine for DCW.
RCB awaits in final — high-scoring clash expected.
Conclusion: Delhi Marches On Toward Glory
Delhi Capitals showed championship quality. Explosive batting, sharp bowling, and smart captaincy dismantled Gujarat.
Jemimah Rodrigues’ knock and Henry’s wickets stood out. Mooney fought bravely, but depth lacked.
Women’s cricket grows stronger each season. Fans await epic final on February 5.
Delhi’s dominance continues — can they lift the trophy this time?
FAQs: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants WPL 2026 Eliminator
- Who won the WPL 2026 Eliminator between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants? Delhi Capitals crushed Gujarat Giants by 7 wickets with 26 balls remaining in the WPL 2026 Eliminator on February 3, 2026, at BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara. This dominant victory secured Delhi’s fourth consecutive WPL final appearance.
- What was the final score in the Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants WPL 2026 Eliminator? Gujarat Giants posted 168/7 in 20 overs, led by Beth Mooney’s unbeaten 62. Delhi Capitals chased down 169/3 in just 15.4 overs, finishing with a run rate of 10.79, thanks to explosive batting from Lizelle Lee, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues.
- Who was the Player of the Match in the WPL 2026 Eliminator? Jemimah Rodrigues was named Player of the Match for her match-winning 41 off 23 balls. The Delhi Capitals captain anchored the chase and hit crucial boundaries and a six to guide her team into the WPL 2026 final.
- How did Beth Mooney perform in the Gujarat Giants innings in the WPL 2026 Eliminator? Beth Mooney top-scored with an unbeaten 62 off 51 balls, including 6 fours. She anchored the innings after an early collapse and accelerated in the death overs alongside Kashvee Gautam, helping Gujarat Giants reach a competitive 168/7.
- What was the highest partnership in the Delhi Capitals chase during the WPL 2026 Eliminator? The opening partnership of 89 runs off just 43 balls between Lizelle Lee (43 off 24) and Shafali Verma (31 off 21) was the highest. It set a blistering foundation, with Delhi racing to 75/0 in the powerplay.
- Why did Delhi Capitals choose to bowl first in the WPL 2026 Eliminator? Captain Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss and opted to bowl, banking on early movement and slow bounce at Kotambi. The decision paid off as Delhi restricted Gujarat Giants early despite Gujarat’s perfect 5-0 record when batting first in WPL 2026.
- Which bowler took the most wickets for Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2026 Eliminator? Chinelle Henry was the standout bowler with 3/35 in 4 overs, including the key wickets of Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, and Bharti Fulmali. Her swing bowling triggered Gujarat’s top-order collapse.
- How many consecutive WPL finals have Delhi Capitals reached after the 2026 Eliminator? Delhi Capitals stormed into their fourth straight WPL final with this 7-wicket win over Gujarat Giants. They will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL 2026 final on February 5 in Vadodara.
- What was the powerplay comparison in the Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants WPL 2026 Eliminator? Delhi Capitals dominated the powerplay with 75/0, the highest of the match, while Gujarat Giants struggled to 48/3—the joint-lowest powerplay score of WPL 2026. This early advantage effectively decided the contest.
- Who will Delhi Capitals play in the WPL 2026 final after beating Gujarat Giants? Delhi Capitals will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL 2026 final on February 5, 2026, at Vadodara. Delhi are chasing their maiden WPL title after three consecutive runner-up finishes.