‘Smriti Mandhana Played With A Massive Flu,’ Says Coach

In a revelation that has added a heroic layer to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic WPL 2026 title win, coach Malolan Rangarajan revealed that captain Smriti Mandhana played the entire final while suffering from a “massive flu” and high fever.

Despite her illness, Mandhana delivered a masterclass, scoring 87 off just 41 balls to lead RCB to their second trophy in three seasons.

The “Inhuman” Performance

Coach Rangarajan described Mandhana’s commitment as “inhuman,” noting that she refused to let her condition affect the team’s morale or her own explosive batting style.

• The Struggle: Mandhana was battling a severe fever on the morning of the match but told the coach, “No problem, I’ll be there.”
• The Result: She not only captained the side through a high-pressure 204-run chase but also finished the season as the Orange Cap winner with 377 runs, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur.

A Night of Historic Records

The final between RCB and Delhi Capitals (DC) at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium on February 5, 2026, shattered multiple cricketing benchmarks:

DC’s “Finals Curse” Deepens

While RCB celebrated, the Delhi Capitals faced the heartbreak of their fourth consecutive WPL final defeat.

1. Jemimah Rodrigues played a captain’s knock of 57, and Chinelle Henry added a late cameo of 35 (15 balls)*.
2. However, even a record-setting 203 was not enough to stop the “Mandhana-Voll” storm, as RCB reached the target with two balls to spare.