Women’s Premier League final: Friends turn rivals for the night as Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues chase ultimate glory

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been the most consistent side this season, but Delhi Capitals have peaked at the right time and arrive battle-hardened for the Women’s Premier League final.

When asked during the pre-match press conference if there was a defining moment—on or off the field—that marked Delhi Capitals’ turnaround after a difficult start to the season, captain Jemimah Rodrigues broke into a smile. Turning to her left, she whispered to Smriti Mandhana, her close friend for years and the opposing captain in Thursday’s Women’s Premier League final, “Should I say it?”

“No!” Mandhana shot back instantly, as both burst out laughing.

Whatever that shared memory may be, it remained safely locked between them. But the moment was a reminder of just how deeply the two Indian stalwarts lean on each other—emotionally and professionally. Rodrigues once spoke movingly about how Mandhana’s mere presence during nets lifted her spirits during a difficult phase when she was briefly dropped from the national side. More recently, when Mandhana’s wedding plans were called off, Rodrigues stayed back to support her, delaying her return to Australia for the Women’s Big Bash League.

Come Thursday night in Vadodara, though, friendship will momentarily take a back seat.

Both Mandhana and Rodrigues are central to their teams’ fortunes. Mandhana’s composure at the top of the order has been the foundation of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s dominant league campaign, while Rodrigues’ resurgence with both bat and leadership has powered Delhi Capitals into the final via the scenic route.

Mandhana knows what it takes to finish the job. In 2024, her iconic “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” moment finally delivered RCB their long-awaited T20 league title. Since then, even the men’s team has lifted the IPL trophy. The fourth edition of the WPL has seen RCB once again stamp their authority, with multiple match-winners stepping up in key moments. Five consecutive wins at the start sealed early qualification, and despite a couple of stumbles, they ended the league phase on a high with a convincing win over UP Warriorz.

Rodrigues, too, has been here before—but never quite like this. In the previous three editions, DC finished atop the table every time, directly qualifying for the final, only to falter at the last hurdle. Back then, Rodrigues was Meg Lanning’s deputy. Taking over from the Australian great this season, she initially struggled to find rhythm—both as captain and batter.

“I was trying way too hard,” Rodrigues admitted. “In the last two games, I just let go. I backed myself. I even stopped practising because I was overdoing it—trying to hit every ball perfectly.”

She drew inspiration from an analogy that stuck with her. “It’s like a butterfly. The more desperate you are, the further it flies away. But when you let go, it comes and sits on your shoulder,” she said after her player-of-the-match performance against Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator.

Delhi come into the final after playing three high-pressure games in a week, giving them momentum and match sharpness. RCB, on the other hand, have had a week off—watching from the sidelines as the rest battled for survival. To avoid mental fatigue, the team took a short trip to Goa.

“I’m really happy everyone got that break and enjoyed time together,” Mandhana said. “Sometimes sitting in a hotel room doing nothing can lead to overthinking.”

It’s an optimistic take, but as Lanning’s DC discovered last year, arriving at a final cold can sometimes be risky. On paper, the teams are evenly matched. RCB hit their stride early; DC took time to understand their processes but look formidable now. Both sides boast an array of match-winners capable of turning the game in a moment.

By the end of Thursday night, only one of the so-called ‘Wrong Sisters’—the affectionate nickname for Mandhana and Rodrigues—will lift the trophy. And when that happens, the other will be the first to cheer.

For one evening, friendship pauses. Legacy takes centre stage.

Watch full clip from WPL’s official X