By The stage is set for a thrilling finale between the home team, Delhi Capitals, and the crowd favorites, Royal Challengers Bangalore, in the WPL 2024 final. With Meg Lanning leading Delhi and Smriti Mandhana captaining RCB, both teams are geared up for an exciting clash at Delhi’s sold-out Feroze Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday (March 17).
Delhi Capitals, direct finalists for the second consecutive year, are eager to prove themselves after finishing as runners-up in 2023. Despite their consistency, they have been unable to clinch the title. On the other hand, RCB has defied expectations to reach their maiden final, overcoming defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator.
DC’s strength lies in their balanced team, with a formidable opening pair, a reliable middle order, and a strong bowling lineup led by Marizanne Kapp and Jess Jonassen. However, their lower-middle order remains a concern, which RCB has exploited in their recent encounters.
RCB, on the other hand, has shown resilience and adaptability throughout the tournament. Mandhana’s leadership and Ellyse Perry’s all-round performances have been crucial in their success. Despite not being as consistent as DC, RCB has the ability to upset the odds and emerge victorious.
Both teams have their eyes set on their first-ever WPL title, adding to the excitement of the clash. With a packed stadium expected to support both teams, the final promises to be a thrilling encounter between two deserving contenders.
Key Details:
- Date: Sunday, March 17 at 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
- Expectations: A high-scoring match with even boundary sizes and minimal dew factor, favoring the team batting first.
Probable XI:
Delhi Capitals: Meg Lanning (C), Shafali Verma, Alice Capsey, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Jess Jonassen, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Taniyaa Bhatia (wk), Shikha Pandey, Minnu Mani/Titas Sadhu
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Smriti Mandhana (C), Sophie Devine, S Meghana/Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Thakur
Key Stats:
- Meg Lanning needs four runs to reclaim the Orange Cap from Ellyse Perry.
- Smriti Mandhana is 82 runs away from joining the 500-run club at WPL.
Quotes:
- Meg Lanning: “We’re in a really good space heading into tomorrow. It’s going to be a cracking game, and we’re really excited to be involved. We’ve given ourselves the opportunity to win it, and we’re looking forward to playing our best game.”
- Smriti Mandhana: “Our last 25 days’ conversation has always been about enjoying each others’ company and focusing on training well. We’ll still go out today and train the way we have in the last 25 days and come out really strong tomorrow.”
