Fans go gaga as clinical RCB storm into WPL 2026 final with eight-wicket win over UP Warriorz

Royal Challengers Bengaluru cemented their standing because the workforce to beat in WPL 2026, delivering a scientific eight-wicket demolition of the UP Warriorz to punch their ticket on to the grand remaining. This high-stakes victory in Vadodara noticed the defending champions keep their composure underneath stress, successfully neutralizing a harmful opposition via tactical superiority and particular person brilliance. By ending on the summit of the factors desk, Smriti Mandhana’s aspect has bypassed the Eliminator, incomes a well-deserved week of relaxation earlier than the final word showdown.

WPL 2026: Grace Harris unleashes a power-hitting masterclass together with Smriti Mandhana for RCB

Grace Harris as soon as once more proved to be the final word game-changer, haunting her former franchise with a savage 75 off simply 39 balls to make a mockery of the 144-run goal. Opening the batting alongside captain Mandhana, Harris wasted no time in asserting dominance, dismantling the Warriorz’ powerplay technique with a flurry of boundaries that cleared the ropes with ease. Her innings was a calculated assault, that includes 9 fours and 4 towering sixes as she reached her half-century in simply 22 deliveries, successfully killing the competition inside the first eight overs.

The Australian all-rounder’s capacity to control the sphere and goal particular bowlers left Meg Lanning with out solutions, as Harris shared a record-breaking 108-run opening stand in underneath 10 overs. Though she ultimately fell within the thirteenth over, her dismissal was a mere formality, because the required fee had plummeted to lower than three runs per over. This efficiency solidified her place as a prime contender for the Orange Cap and showcased her repute as one of the crucial damaging finishers within the ladies’s sport.

Mandhana, watching the carnage from one of the best seat in the home, offered the proper foil with a gentle unbeaten 54, making certain the chase was accomplished with 41 balls to spare. The sheer velocity of Harris’s knock not solely secured the 2 factors but in addition offered an enormous enhance to RCB’s internet run fee, leaving little doubt about their championship credentials.

Additionally WATCH: WPL 2026: Grace Harris rips via UP Warriorz center order with key wickets of Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon

RCB’s bowling unit Nadine de Klerk stifles the UP Warriorz

The inspiration of RCB’s triumph was laid by a disciplined bowling efficiency that restricted a harmful Warriorz lineup to a sub-par complete of 143/8. After electing to area, the Bengaluru bowlers had been compelled to remain affected person as Meg Lanning (40) and Deepti Sharma (55) constructed a gentle 74-run platform for the guests. The breakthrough lastly got here through Nadine de Klerk, who produced a sensational triple-wicket burst to complete with career-best figures of 4/22, successfully derailing the center order in a matter of minutes.

Harris additionally made important contributions with the ball, outfoxing Harleen Deol and Chloe Tryon to assert 2/22 and set off a collapse that noticed the Warriorz lose 4 wickets for simply 11 runs. Shreyanka Patil offered the ending touches, eradicating the set Deepti Sharma within the penultimate over to make sure there was no late-innings flourish for the opposition. Lauren Bell remained characteristically miserly on the different finish, conceding solely 21 runs from her 4 overs whereas making use of relentless stress on the brand new batters.

The collective effort from the bowling unit meant that the Warriorz, regardless of having wickets in hand early on, by no means discovered the acceleration wanted on a floor that started to supply grip for the spinners. Georgia Voll, was equally spectacular, pouching two essential catches to maintain the stress excessive all through the 20 overs. This all-round dominance with the ball allowed the RCB batters to play with freedom, understanding that the goal was properly beneath the par rating for the Kotambi Stadium.

Right here’s how followers reacted:

FINALE HERE WE COME 👊

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 29, 2026

That is what Grace Harris can do. The queen is again 🥶❤️ pic.twitter.com/cbItj7l45M

— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) January 29, 2026

If at first of this WPL season, somebody would’ve informed me that RCB would straight play the FINAL after successful 6 out of their 8 league video games with out Ellyse Perry I might have by no means believed them. 😅

— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) January 29, 2026

What a season this has been for RCB

They end prime of the desk for the primary time within the group stage of the #WPL

One win away from the title now#WPL2026 #UPWvRCB

— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) January 29, 2026

Biceps celebration by Grace Harris 🥶 pic.twitter.com/aHc4ODMdEF

— Vivek (@Hailkohli18) January 29, 2026

RCB could not have had one of the best workforce on paper, however all through the match this workforce has performed one of the best cricket of all groups even with out having Perry and Pooja. Somebody or the opposite has typically stepped up at totally different occasions. Very deserved first spot and remaining.

— GK (@FCBxRCB) January 29, 2026

RCB makes it to a few successive finals then!✅WPL 2024✅IPL 2025✅WPL 2026Time to make it 3 titles in a row! 🏏🤞

— Sohini M. (@Mittermaniac) January 29, 2026

🚨 RCB QUALIFIED INTO THE FINAL OF WPL 2026 🚨

– Complete dominance by Smriti Mandhana & her Military. pic.twitter.com/nubJ9bjLyP

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 29, 2026