In a WPL 2026 clash at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues led from the front to secure a massive 7-wicket victory over the defending champions, Mumbai Indians. Chasing a target of 155, Rodrigues anchored the chase with a composed and unbeaten 51 off 38 balls, guiding her team home with eight balls to spare.

This crucial win not only revitalizes Delhi’s campaign after a shaky start to the season but also hands Mumbai their third consecutive defeat in WPL 2026. After a dominant opening week, the champions now find themselves in a mid-season slump, struggling to find the clinical edge that defined their title-winning run last year. The victory was punctuated by a thunderous finish from Marizanne Kapp, who launched a massive six to seal the points in style.

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues leads the way as Delhi Capitals secure dominant 7-wicket win

Rodrigues proved why she was entrusted with the captaincy this season, delivering a Player of the Match performance to down the mighty Mumbai. Chasing 155, the Capitals got off to a blistering start thanks to Shafali Verma (29) and Lizelle Lee (46), but it was Rodrigues who provided the necessary stability as the chase entered its final stages. Batting with surgical precision, she reached her half-century in style with a boundary off Nat Sciver-Brunt, keeping the required rate well under control.

The ultimate exclamation point came in the 19th over; with just a few runs needed, Kapp showcased her raw power by clearing the boundary with a colossal six off Sciver-Brunt to end the game. This finishing act by Kapp not only secured the two points but also served as a massive confidence booster for a Delhi side that had been struggling for consistency. By the time the ball disappeared into the stands, Delhi had effectively reset their season, proving they can outmuscle the most successful franchise in the tournament’s history.

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Mumbai Indians suffer third straight defeat as top order falters and bowling woes deepen 

For the first time in WPL history, the Mumbai are facing a crisis of confidence in their bowling department after falling to their third defeat on the trot. Despite a fighting 66 from Sciver-Brunt and a late cameo from captain Harmanpreet Kaur (41), Mumbai’s total of 154/5 proved inadequate against a relentless Delhi top order. The primary issue remains the lack of penetration in the middle overs; while Shabnim Ismail provided her usual pace, the rest of the attack struggled to build pressure or find breakthroughs.

Hayley Matthews, usually the trump card for Mumbai, found it difficult to contain Rodrigues, while debutant Vaishnavi Sharma showed promise but couldn’t stem the flow of runs during the powerplay. The most alarming trend for Mumbai is their death bowling, which was exposed yet again as Sciver-Brunt conceded 14 runs in the 19th over, culminating in Kapp’s match-winning six. With their frontline bowlers failing to defend competitive totals in three successive games, Harmanpreet now faces the daunting task of reinventing her bowling strategy before Mumbai’s playoff hopes slip away entirely.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Jemimah Rodrigues, take a bow! What a knock in the run chase; the gap-finding, unorthodox shots, and brilliant running between the wickets. 😍

It was a treat to watch.

— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) January 20, 2026

Jemimah played a Captain’s knock after a bad run in the previous 4 games…

Now all 4 teams are tied up with 4 pts just that MI have played one more game…. 2nd and 3rd spot fight is going to be fun

— arfan (@Im__Arfan) January 20, 2026

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues’s half-century powers DC to their second win, handing Mumbai Indians a third straight loss. pic.twitter.com/aUJWpphm8V

— RCBIANS OFFICIAL (@RcbianOfficial) January 20, 2026

At this stage, @mipaltan is almost out of this season, and only a miracle run can change thing !🤐

This is a wake-up call for Mumbai Indians. If changes are delayed, the season will officially be over.🤧#MumbaiIndians #DCvMI #WPL2026 #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/NZqOQvBS2c

— Aneesh (@Aneesh_98) January 20, 2026

The picture says it all! 👍💙 pic.twitter.com/pcxVKtCZDf

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) January 20, 2026

Mumbai Indians has the best resources but this season they haven’t been able to figure out a working and stable team combination. The team looked better under Charlotte Edwards in terms of clarity of thought. #WPL2026

— DHRUV (@dhruvKT38) January 20, 2026

Tough times to be a MI fan 💔

– MI Emirates lost the Final
– MI Cape Town finished at Last place
– MI Women have now lost 3 consecutive matches*

Not sure what else awaits us as MI fans in the upcoming IPL, MLC, and The Hundred seasons 🥲#WPL2026

— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) January 20, 2026

UPW had the best opportunity for their NRR to get better against MI !! With all 4 teams having 4 points each NRR will definitely come in place for the qualification!! WPL is finally getting a thriller of a season this time… hopefully we get a new champion as well !!#wpl2026

— kartik_trav62 (@headyy62) January 20, 2026

Nat Sciver Brunt is pretty useless with the ball.

Mumbai Indians women certainly finishing outside top 3.

Only positive this season is the signing of cutie Vaishnavi Sharma#WPL2026

— Dave (@AFC_Dev17) January 20, 2026

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues bags player of the match award 🙌#DCvsMI #WPL2026 pic.twitter.com/aKR0PjNYI4

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) January 20, 2026

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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