RCB Champions - (Source: AFP)
On Thursday, February 5, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lifted their second WPL title after the Smriti Mandhana-led side handed Delhi Capitals a 6-wicket defeat. The Capitals, on the other hand, suffered heartbreak as they lost their fourth straight WPL final.
It was another exciting and successful WPL season, spanning 28 days. Five teams locked horns, and after 22 games, the season got its deserving winners. As the tournament has concluded, this article will shed light on the WPL team of the tournament.
1. Smriti Mandhana - RCB
RCB captain Smriti Mandhana will open the innings, as she had a wonderful edition and also led the team to their second title. The 29-year-old scored 377 runs, averaging 53.86. Further, the southpaw ended the tournament as the leading run-getter and won the orange cap for her performance.
Smriti shone when it mattered the most and scored a brilliant 87 off 41 balls. Mandhana will also lead the team of the tournament for brilliant leadership throughout the season.
2. Lizelle Lee - DC
The Delhi Capitals star provided the Capitals with an aggressive start and was their leading run-getter with 320 runs in 10 innings, averaging 32. Therefore, Lee will open the innings with Mandhana to form a formidable fire and ice combo.
Lee will also keep wickets as she took some blinders in the tournament and was very impressive with the gloves.
3. Sophie Devine - Gujarat Giants
Gujarat Giants have only one player who makes it to the team of the tournament, and it's Sophie Devine. The Kiwi makes it to the list for her all-round performance.
Devine scored 243 runs in nine innings with the bat, which featured two fifty-plus scores. Moreover, the 36-year-old was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 17 scalps to her name.
4. Harmanpreet Kaur - MI
India and Mumbai Indians skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is a must as the right-handed batter scored 342 runs in eight innings. MI failed to defend their title after crashing out of the tournament in the group stage, but Kaur had a brilliant season on an individual level.
Kaur averaged 68.40 with the bat and scored three-fifty-plus scores.
5.Nat Sciver-Brunt - MI
Another player from the Mumbai Indians who makes it to the list is Nat Sciver-Brunt. The England cricketer scored 321 runs and was the 3rd leading run-getter of the tournament.
Even with the ball, Brunt picked up 8 wickets in seven innings, making her effective with the ball as well for the two-time winners.
6. Nadine de Klerk - RCB
South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk announced her arrival in the opening game when she whacked Sciver-Brunt for 20 runs and completed a near-impossible chase. Klerk finished the season on a high and scored 133 runs in six innings.
With the ball, Klerk took 16 wickets in nine innings, ending up as the 3rd leading wicket-taker of the tournament.
7. Chinelle Henry - DC
Delhi Capitals roped Chinelle Henry for her batting abilities, but the right-handed batter shone more for her bowling. In the tournament, she scored just 108 runs with the bat and took 14 wickets in 8 innings.
8. Shree Charani - DC
Despite a disappointing run in the playoffs, Shree Charani was the Delhi Capitals’ second-best bowler with 14 wickets in eight innings. She bowled at an economy of 8.59 and a strike-rate of 12.00.
9. Shreyanka Patil - RCB
Another spinner in the team would be Shreyanka Patil, who will pair up with Shree Charani. Patil took 11 wickets in nine innings and also contributed with the bat.
For the unversed, Patil also scored 28 runs in five innings and a strike-rate of 164.71.
10. Nandani Sharma - DC
Among the fast bowlers, Nandani Sharma scripted history after she picked up 17 wickets in 10 innings, making her pick the most wickets in a single WPL season by an Indian. Also, Nandani ended up as the joint-leading wicket-taker in WPL 2026.
11. Lauren Bell - RCB
The biggest contributor to RCB’s title win has been Lauren Bell. The star bowler picked up 12 wickets in nine innings and bowled with an economy of 5.53.
Notably, even in the final, Bell registered the figures of 0/19 in four overs when the other bowlers leaked 30+ runs in their spells.
1. Smriti Mandhana (C) - RCB
2. Lizelle Lee (WK) - DC
3. Sophie Devine - GG
4. Harmanpreet Kaur - MI
5. Nat-Sciver Brunt - MI
6. Nadine de Klerk - RCB
7. Chenille Henry- DC
8. Shree Charani - DC
9. Shreyanka Patil - RCB
10. Nandani Sharma - DC
11. Lauran Bell - RCB
.jpg?type=mq "TR on Vaibhav Suryavanshi!")
