The Aryavarth Express
Vadodara (Gujarat):
Delhi Capitals all-rounder Minnu Mani credited the team’s disciplined execution and clear planning after the side registered back-to-back wins in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with a comprehensive victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, on Saturday.
After opting to field, Delhi Capitals produced a clinical bowling performance to bundle RCB out for 109. Nandini Sharma spearheaded the attack with figures of 3 for 26, including two wickets in the final over, to retain the Purple Cap with 13 wickets in the tournament. She received able support from Marizanne Kapp (2/17), Chinelle Henry (2/22) and Minnu Mani (2/18), as the bowlers exploited the slow, low surface effectively.
In reply, Delhi Capitals recovered from an early wobble to chase down the target with ease. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt added a steady 52-run partnership to stabilise the innings. Wolvaardt remained unbeaten on 42, while Rodrigues chipped in with 24, as the Capitals reached 111 for 3 to seal the win with seven wickets in hand.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Mani said the team’s clarity and collective execution were key to their success with the ball.
“We were very clear with our plans because we knew the wicket here would be slow and low. As a bowling unit, we focused on hitting the right lengths and not trying to do too much. Everyone stuck to their roles, and the way we executed our plans collectively made a big difference,” Mani said, according to a Delhi Capitals press release.
Highlighting the importance of patience, particularly for the spinners, Mani added that controlling the middle overs was crucial on such a surface.
“On pitches like this, patience becomes very important. You can’t expect wickets straight away, but if you keep things tight and force batters to take risks, chances will come. Our job was to mix up the pace, control the middle overs and make it hard to score freely, and I think we did that really well,” she said.
Reflecting on her own performance, Mani admitted that execution had been a challenge in earlier matches but credited hard work and trust in the coaching staff.
“In the earlier games, my execution wasn’t where I wanted it to be, even though the effort was there. I kept working on it in training and trusted the coaches. Today, things clicked at a crucial moment, and I’m happy I could contribute when the team needed it,” she said.
Mani also underlined the confidence gained from consecutive victories.
“Winning back-to-back matches gives confidence, but more importantly, it shows we are learning as a group. Even under pressure, we stayed calm and trusted our process, and that’s something we want to carry forward,” she added.
Delhi Capitals will next take on Gujarat Giants in their WPL 2026 fixture on Tuesday, January 27, as they aim to build on their growing momentum.
