In a high-stakes encounter at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, the Delhi Capitals (DC) once again stamped their authority on the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The 2026 Eliminator, held on February 3, saw a clinical Delhi side dismantle the Gujarat Giants (GG) by seven wickets to secure their spot in the grand finale. Despite a late-innings surge from the Giants, the Capitals chased down the 169-run target with more than four overs to spare, leaving the Gujarat camp to reflect on what could have been.
Ashleigh Gardner explains what went wrong in Gujarat Giants’ WPL 2026 eliminator defeat to Delhi Capitals
Following the defeat, Gujarat Giants’ captain Ashleigh Gardner was candid about the shortcomings that led to her team’s exit. While Beth Mooney’s resilient 62 off 51 balls and Georgia Wareham’s 35 helped the Giants recover from a disastrous start of 59/4 to reach 168/7, Gardner admitted the total was only defendable if the bowling unit executed perfectly.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gardner identified the inability to apply pressure during the Powerplay as the primary catalyst for the loss.
“We felt like it was obviously defendable, but yeah, I guess, like I said, when you don’t really put the pressure on early with the ball in the Powerplay, it kind of brings the other team in,” Gardner explained.
The Australian all-rounder noted that the presence of dew later in the evening made the task even harder for her bowlers. She lamented the lack of discipline, stating that the team missed the stumps a little bit too much and handed Delhi too many free hits early. Gardner emphasized that against an aggressive side like Delhi, failing to adapt to their attacking mindset proved fatal.
“We obviously know the way they play. They want to attack the bowler and put you under pressure, and they did that really well tonight,” Gardner concluded.
Delhi capitals secure historic fourth consecutive final berth in WPL
The chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Delhi’s openers, Shafali Verma and Lizelle Lee, effectively ended the contest within the first six overs. The duo put on a blistering 89-run stand, with Lee smashing 43 off 24 balls and Verma contributing 31 off 21. Their onslaught ensured that even when Georgia Wareham struck twice in one over to remove both, the required run rate remained well under control.
Jemimah Rodrigues, leading from the front, played a Player of the Match-winning knock of 41 off 23 balls. Alongside the composed Laura Wolvaardt (32), Rodrigues navigated the middle overs with ease. The victory was sealed when Marizanne Kapp struck the winning boundary in the 16th over, finishing at 169/3.
With this win, the Capitals have achieved the remarkable feat of reaching the WPL final in every single edition of the tournament since its inception in 2023. They now head into a blockbuster final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on February 5, hoping that their fourth consecutive appearance will finally yield their maiden title.
Also READ: Sarah Taylor reveals how WPL accelerated women’s cricket in India
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.
