In a spectacular display of cricketing prowess, Grace Harris delivered a match-winning all-round performance on Thursday, propelling Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the summit of the Women's Premier League 2026 points table. This commanding victory has secured RCB a direct entry into the tournament final, cementing their status as the team to beat this season.
Playoff Picture Remains Wide Open
While Royal Challengers Bengaluru have comfortably booked their place in the championship match, the race for the remaining two playoff positions has intensified dramatically. With just two league matches remaining, four teams remain in contention, creating an electrifying finish to the league stage.
Gujarat Giants: Holding Second Position
Gujarat Giants climbed to second place after edging past Delhi Capitals by three runs in a thrilling encounter. They now boast eight points from seven matches, putting them in a strong position for qualification. However, their path forward presents both opportunities and challenges.
The simplest route for Gujarat involves securing victory over Mumbai Indians. A win by any margin would elevate them to ten points and guarantee their playoff berth. Interestingly, they could still advance even with a defeat, provided UP Warriorz manage to overcome Delhi Capitals in their final match.
Net run rate concerns remain significant for the Giants, who currently maintain a negative NRR of minus 0.271. A narrow loss to Mumbai could prove particularly dangerous. For instance, if Gujarat lose by just one run, Delhi would only need to defeat UP Warriorz by any margin to surpass them on net run rate and qualify, assuming first-innings scores of 160.
Mumbai Indians: Defending Champions' Position
Defending champions Mumbai Indians remain well positioned in the qualification battle, largely due to their superior net run rate among the four contending teams. They also maintain a dominant 8-0 head-to-head record against Gujarat Giants, providing psychological advantage.
A victory over Gujarat would lift Mumbai to eight points and should be sufficient to secure a playoff spot. Should they suffer defeat, their fate would then depend entirely on the final league match between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz.
In scenarios involving heavy losses, margins become critically important. If Mumbai lose by 50 runs, Delhi would need to fall to UP Warriorz by seven runs or more to remain below Mumbai on net run rate. Additionally, UP Warriorz would need to avoid an overwhelming victory of more than 116 runs against Delhi, assuming first-innings scores of 160.
Delhi Capitals: Little Room for Error
Delhi Capitals had revived their campaign with consecutive victories over Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru following a sluggish start. However, their recent loss to Gujarat Giants has left them with minimal margin for error in the final stretch.
Delhi will qualify for the eliminator simply by defeating UP Warriorz in their final league match, regardless of the outcome between Mumbai and Gujarat. A defeat, however, could create significant complications.
If Delhi lose to UP Warriorz while Gujarat triumphs over Mumbai, a three-way tie on six points would emerge between Delhi, Mumbai, and UP Warriorz. Net run rate would then determine which teams advance. For example, if Gujarat defeat Mumbai by 50 runs, Delhi would need to ensure they don't lose to UP Warriorz by more than six runs to stay ahead of Mumbai on net run rate, assuming first-innings scores of 160.
Delhi does hold a strategic advantage in playing the final league game, allowing them to know exactly what's required for qualification when they take the field.
UP Warriorz: Mathematical Possibility Remains
UP Warriorz are clinging to mathematical hope after their defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They currently sit at the bottom of the table with just four points and the weakest net run rate of minus 1.146, yet remain technically in contention.
Their path to qualification represents the most challenging scenario among all teams. UP Warriorz must achieve two extraordinary outcomes: first, they need to defeat Delhi Capitals by a massive margin in their final match, and second, they require Gujarat to overcome Mumbai by a similarly substantial margin the previous day.
Only under these specific circumstances could UP Warriorz potentially climb above both Mumbai and Delhi on net run rate. As an illustration, if Gujarat beat Mumbai by 50 runs, UP Warriorz would need to defeat Delhi by at least 117 runs to overtake both teams and secure a place in the eliminator scheduled for February 3, assuming first-innings scores of 160.
Final Stretch Anticipation
The Women's Premier League 2026 has delivered exceptional cricketing action throughout the tournament, with Grace Harris's heroics for Royal Challengers Bengaluru standing as a highlight. As the league stage approaches its conclusion, fans can anticipate dramatic encounters that will determine which teams join RCB in the playoff rounds.
The complex qualification scenarios involving net run rate calculations, head-to-head records, and margin requirements have created unprecedented excitement in women's franchise cricket. All eyes now turn to the final league matches that will decide the complete playoff picture for this thrilling edition of the Women's Premier League.
