Delhi Capitals have won the toss and chosen to bowl first against Gujarat Giants in the crucial Eliminator match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi). Both teams are fielding unchanged XIs from their previous games, with the victor set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the final on Thursday.
The Women’s Premier League’s fourth edition has been marked by close contests, with dominant victories being rare. Delhi Capitals have faced pressure, especially in run chases against Gujarat Giants, struggling in tight games under the captaincy of Sophie Devine.
The paths to the eliminator for both teams have been different. Gujarat Giants secured the second spot with a notable win over Mumbai Indians, while Delhi had to wait until the last moment to confirm their qualification. However, as the Eliminator approaches, past performances hold little significance.
Both sides enter the match in good form, winning three of their last four games and settling into their line-ups after minor tactical adjustments. The key difference lies in squad depth: Delhi Capitals have seen contributions from multiple players, whereas Gujarat Giants heavily rely on a select few. The outcome may hinge on this reliance or if Sophie Devine can guide the Giants to their first final.
Jemimah Rodrigues, the skipper of Delhi Capitals, mentioned, “It looks like a fresh surface. Any target seems chaseable, and with the dew, the pitch should improve under lights. Just control the controllables is the message to the team. Today is a new game, and if any game matters the most, it is tonight. So, we aim to win.”
On the other hand, Ashleigh Gardner, the captain of Gujarat Giants, stated, “We were planning to bat, anticipating they might opt to bowl, and it worked out well. We intend to be aggressive with the bat and take on the powerplay. Nothing changes for us tonight. The conditions look very similar to the previous wickets. We will quickly assess the conditions and adapt on the go.”
