Kamal Ghorui
It’s been some transformation for Jemimah Rodrigues as Delhi Capitals captain in the fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League. After the first four matches, the Capitals were hugging the bottom of the table with three defeats. The infectious smile that the 25-year-old Bandra girl invariably sports had disappeared and it seemed the leadership of the team was sitting heavy on her slight shoulders.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!After her 23-ball 41 in the Eliminator against Gujarat Giants, the mask dropped and she admitted that she was “trying way too hard”. The turnaround had come earlier, though, when she cracked an unbeaten 51 off 37 balls against Mumbai Indians in Capitals’ fifth league game that they won by seven wickets. She now looks in command of her unit, comfortably surrounded by her age-group peer ‘Wolfie’ (Laura Wolvaardt) and the seasoned ‘Kappie’ (Marizanne Kapp) — the nicknames she uses for them — along with the rest of the squad that looks like a cohesive unit.
Capitals arrive as a formidable force, peaking in knockout mode and carrying genuine momentum into the summit showdown where they will take on Smriti Mandhana’s Royals Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at BCA Stadium in Vadodara.The experience of leading a side in a WPL final is entirely new territory for Jemimah, adding an extra layer of anticipation to her journey. In contrast, her opposite number, Smriti, brings seasoned poise to the occasion, having already guided RCB to the title in 2024.
Poll
Who do you think will win the WPL final between Delhi Capitals and RCB?
RCB topped the league stage with impressive consistency, suffering only two losses in eight matches. Capitals endured four defeats in the same number of games but lately have shown resilience in high-stakes matches. With RCB entering as tabletoppers and direct finalists, enjoying the benefit of extra rest, they hold the edge as they have experienced what winning a final means. Yet Capitals, making their fourth consecutive final appearance, have the knockout pedigree and a captain who has grown into the role. The bowling units appear closely matched. RCB are powered by the disciplined and wicket-taking prowess of English pacer Lauren Bell, who has consistently troubled batters with the new ball and has been frugal.Capitals, meanwhile, are spearheaded by the experienced Kapp, whose clever variations, impeccable control, and ability to strike at key moments have proved highly effective. Capitals have a more rounded batting unit though. Their top-order, comprising Lizelle Lee, Shafali Verma, Wolvaardt and Jemimah, has fired as a unit. In contrast, RCB remain heavily reliant on the starts provided by their openers Grace Harris and skipper Smriti.
