WPL 2026: Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a strong performance to beat UP Warriorz by eight wickets in Match 18 of WPL 2026 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Thursday. The win helped RCB bounce back from two straight losses and finish the league stage with confidence.
RCB chose to bowl first after winning the toss and kept UP Warriorz under pressure from the start. Nadine de Klerk led the bowling attack with four wickets for just 22 runs. For UPW, Deepti Sharma stood tall with a fighting 55 from 43 balls, while captain Meg Lanning added 41 from 30. Apart from these two, the batting unit struggled to build partnerships, and the team closed at 143 for 8.
In reply, Bengaluru made the chase look easy. Grace Harris played a powerful knock of 75 from 37 balls, while skipper Smriti Mandhana stayed unbeaten on 54 from 27. RCB reached the target in just 13.1 overs and sealed a big win.
With this result, RCB confirmed their place in the WPL 2026 final by securing the top spot on the points table. On the other side, UP Warriorz now sit very close to elimination. With only two league matches left, the fight for the remaining playoff spots is wide open.
WPL 2026 Playoff Race: Qualification Scenarios Explained
Gujarat Giants Playoff Path
Gujarat Giants are placed second with eight points from seven games and a net run rate of minus 0.271. They face Mumbai Indians in their final league match. A win will take them to ten points and guarantee a playoff spot, as no other team can reach that mark.
Read More
If they lose to MI, both teams will stay on eight points. In that case, Gujarat will need UP Warriorz to beat Delhi Capitals. If that happens, Gujarat and Mumbai can still move forward based on a better points and run rate situation.
Mumbai Indians Playoff Chances
Mumbai Indians sit third with six points and a positive net run rate of plus 0.146. A win over Gujarat Giants will lift them to eight points and almost secure their place in the playoffs due to their strong run rate.
If MI lose, they will remain on six points. They can still qualify if UP Warriorz manage to defeat Delhi Capitals. In that case, three teams will be tied on six points, and MI will have the edge because of their better net run rate.
Delhi Capitals Still in the Hunt
Delhi Capitals are fourth with six points and a net run rate of minus 0.164. Their recent close loss to Gujarat Giants made things tougher, but they are still in the race.
A win against UP Warriorz will take them to eight points and confirm their place in the playoffs. Even if they stay on six points, they will need other results to go their way, but their chances are slim compared to Mumbai Indians.
UP Warriorz Facing a Tough Road
UP Warriorz have four points from seven matches and a very low net run rate of minus 1.146. Their heavy losses in the last two games have put them in a difficult position.
To stay alive, they need Gujarat Giants to beat Mumbai Indians by a big margin. Then, UPW must defeat Delhi Capitals by a huge score as well. Even in that situation, their net run rate may still hold them back, making qualification very unlikely.
With the final league games coming up, the WPL 2026 playoff race promises drama until the very end, as teams fight not just for wins but also for every run that could change their season.
Also Read: FFMIC 2026 Spring Prize Money Details For Free Fire Max Teams
