The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have officially become the first team to secure a direct spot in the WPL 2026 Final. Following a dominant eight-wicket victory over the UP Warriorz on January 29, the Smriti Mandhana-led side finished their league campaign at the summit of the table.

RCB marches into the WPL 2026 final

With 12 points from 8 matches and a superior Net Run Rate of +1.247, no other team can overhaul their position at the top. This marks a significant milestone for the franchise, showcasing their consistency after a record-breaking six-match winning streak earlier in the season. Fans can now look forward to seeing the ‘Red and Gold’ brigade fight for the title in Vadodara on February 5. Grace Harris and Nadine de Klerk have been instrumental in this journey, with the latter currently holding the Purple Cap.

WPL 2026 playoffs qualification scenarios for DC, MI, GG and UPW

1. Gujarat Giants (GG)

The Giants are currently in the driver’s seat for the second spot with 8 points from 7 matches. Their destiny is entirely in their own hands as they prepare for their final league game against Mumbai Indians. A win will take them to 10 points, guaranteeing them a place in the Eliminator regardless of other results. Even if they lose, they can still qualify if the margin of defeat is small enough to keep their NRR above the chasing pack.

• Current Standing: 2nd Position (8 points, NRR -0.271)
• Must Do: Win against MI on January 30 to secure a playoff spot.
• Fallback: If they lose, they must hope DC loses to UPW to stay in the top three.

2. Mumbai Indians (MI)

The defending champions find themselves in a ‘do-or-die’ situation with 6 points from 7 matches. Their healthy positive NRR (+0.146) is their greatest asset in a potential tie-breaker scenario. To qualify, MI must defeat Gujarat Giants in their final game to reach 8 points and leapfrog them on NRR. A loss would leave them stranded on 6 points, making them dependent on UP Warriorz defeating Delhi Capitals.

• Current Standing: 3rd Position (6 points, NRR +0.146)
• Must Do: Defeat Gujarat Giants to reach 8 points.
• Fallback: If they lose, they need DC to lose their final game heavily to stay 3rd on NRR.

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3. Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals are currently 4th with 6 points from 7 matches and are feeling the heat after recent losses. Their final league match is against the UP Warriorz on February 1, which they must win to reach 8 points. Because their NRR is currently negative (-0.164), they not only need to win but also hope the result of the GG vs MI match works in their favor. If both MI and DC win, it will come down to a three-way NRR battle at 8 points.

• Current Standing: 4th Position (6 points, NRR -0.164)
• Must Do: Beat UP Warriorz and improve their NRR significantly.
• Scenario: They benefit most if MI loses to GG, as a win would then guarantee DC the 3rd spot.

4. UP Warriorz (UPW)

The Warriorz are at the bottom of the table with 4 points from 7 matches and face the steepest climb. After their heavy loss to RCB, their NRR has plummeted to -1.146, making a top-three finish mathematically difficult but not impossible. They must beat Delhi Capitals by a massive margin to reach 6 points and hope Mumbai Indians lose their final game by an equally large margin. Their qualification depends on multiple results going their way and a miraculous shift in NRR.

• Current Standing: 5th Position (4 points, NRR -1.146)
• Must Do: Defeat Delhi Capitals by a huge margin on February 1.
• Dependency: Need MI to lose to GG and hope the NRR swing overcomes a massive deficit.

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

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