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WPL 2026: Rodrigues Hails Rana-Prasad's 'Special' Fightback in Tense 3-Run Loss

Gujarat Giants secured a thrilling three-run victory over Delhi Capitals in the WPL, with Sophie Devine defending nine runs in a tense final over. Delhi's chase was revived by a spirited 70-run partnership between Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad, which captain Jemimah Rodrigues called "special." Despite the late fightback, Delhi's top order, including Shafali Verma and Laura Wolvaardt, failed to build substantial partnerships. The Capitals now face a virtual knockout in their final league game against UP Warriorz.

Key Points: Delhi Capitals' Close Loss in WPL 2026: Rodrigues Praises Rana, Prasad

  • Giants win by 3 runs in final-over thriller
  • Rana-Prasad 70-run partnership revives chase
  • Sophie Devine defends 9 in dramatic last over
  • Delhi's top order fails to accelerate
  • Crucial virtual knockout vs UP Warriorz next
3 min read

WPL 2026: Rodrigues praises 'special' fightback from Sneha-Prasad after Delhi's close loss

Delhi Capitals fell 3 runs short vs Gujarat Giants in WPL 2026. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues praised Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad's special 70-run partnership.

"Firstly, the way Sneh Rana and Niki played, I have to give it to them. It was special. - Jemimah Rodrigues"

Vadodara, Jan 28

Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues praised the composure and courage shown by Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad in a tense finish, admitting it was a tough pill to swallow after falling just three runs short of the target against Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.

Sophie Devine held her nerve in a dramatic final over to defend nine runs, sealing a thrilling three-run win for the Giants, completing a season double.

A spirited seventh-wicket partnership of 70 runs between Rana (29 off 15) and Prasad (47 off 24) reignited hope, but Devine's mastery at the death - having earlier defended seven against the same opponents - ensured Gujarat Giants closed out another nervy win. "Firstly, the way Sneh Rana and Niki played, I have to give it to them. It was special. Such things happen, but it would have been nice had we finished on the right side of the finishing line," said Rodrigues after the match.

Rodrigues said belief never faded in the Capitals' camp as long as batters were at the crease, lauding Rana and Prasad for keeping the chase alive with their fearless approach. "As long as we knew our batters were in, we had the hope, and we kept believing. They kept believing and kept us in the hunt. Niki played brilliantly. I think they were the ones who kept us going. We didn't win it today, but the way they played today was brilliant."

Delhi's reply got off to a good start when Shafali Verma hit a boundary off the first ball and quickly reached 26 in 2.2 overs before Rajeshwari Gayakwad removed her in the first over.

Laura Wolvaardt once again failed to accelerate, scoring 24 off 23 before Gayakwad brushed her off stump, while Lizelle Lee struggled with fluency and was caught for 11 off 20 balls.

Jemimah Rodrigues managed 16 off 16 balls before being bowled by Devine, and the Capitals' chase faltered further as Marizanne Kapp fell for a golden duck to Gardner. Chinelle Henry added only 9 off 11 balls, leaving Delhi in trouble.

Reflecting on the defeat, the skipper felt Delhi paid the price for losing wickets in clusters and conceding extra runs at the death, despite a strong effort with the ball earlier in the innings.

"I just feel we had done really well with the ball. Last few overs, we gave some runs. 10-15 runs extra. We needed partnerships from all the top order batters. To see the way those two batted, it was really special."

Delhi will play their last league game against UP Warriorz, which will be a virtual knockout on February 1. "That game is going to be important. It will be important for us to regroup. We are still in the tournament, and we will keep fighting."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Tough loss. The top order really needs to step up. Shafali starts with a bang and then gets out, Wolvaardt and Lee couldn't get going. You can't rely on the lower order to chase 9+ an over every time. The fightback was special, but the foundation was weak.
N
Nikhil C
Sophie Devine is a champion! Defending 9 runs in the final over under that pressure, especially against batters who were on fire, is top class. Gujarat's win was well-deserved. WPL matches are getting more competitive every year, which is great for the sport.
S
Sarah B
As a neutral fan, this was fantastic entertainment. The quality of cricket is superb. Niki Prasad's 47 off 24 was a masterclass in clean hitting. The future is bright with such talented Indian youngsters sharing the stage with world stars.
A
Aditi M
Jemimah's captaincy and words are always so gracious in defeat. It's a tough pill to swallow, but the spirit is right. All focus on the must-win against UP now. Hoping the team learns from the middle-order collapse. Come on, Delhi! 💙
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I think the team management needs to look at the overseas combination. When your big names like Wolvaardt, Lee, and Kapp contribute so little, it puts immense pressure on the Indian players. The fightback was incredible, but the planning needs to be better.

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