WPL 2026 Playoff Teams Confirmed: Final Points Table, Eliminator & Final Preview

WPL 2026 Playoff Teams, If you thought the Women’s Premier League had settled into a predictable pattern after the first three seasons, WPL 2026 came along and ripped that script to shreds. The regular season is done, the points table is locked in, and the playoff road is clear—and it looks very different from what most of us expected.

We’ve seen a season filled with upsets, dramatic finishes, and a complete reshuffling of power. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have stormed to the top as the dominant force, Gujarat Giants have pulled off the comeback of the season, Delhi Capitals just about held their nerve, while the mighty Mumbai Indians have suffered their first-ever playoff exit. And the UP Warriorz? Sadly, it’s more of the same story.

Let’s walk through the full WPL 2026 points table, how each team finished, who made the playoffs, who missed out, and what it all means heading into the Eliminator and the Final.

WPL 2026 Final Points Table

WPL 2026 Playoff Teams, Before we dive into the stories, here’s how the final standings looked after the league stage:

• 1. RCB Women – 8 matches, 6 wins, 2 losses, 12 points, NRR $+1.247$ – Direct entry to Final

• 2. Gujarat Giants – 8 matches, 5 wins, 3 losses, 10 points, NRR $-0.168$ – To Eliminator

• 3. Delhi Capitals – 8 matches, 4 wins, 4 losses, 8 points, NRR $-0.055$ – To Eliminator

• 4. Mumbai Indians – 8 matches, 3 wins, 5 losses, 6 points, NRR $+0.059$ – Eliminated

• 5. UP Warriorz – 8 matches, 2 wins, 6 losses, 4 points, NRR $-1.076$ – Eliminated

One look at that table tells you the story: the usual order has been flipped. Let’s break it down team by team.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: From Nearly Men To Table-Topping Powerhouse

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have flirted with potential since the WPL began, but 2026 is the season where promise finally turned into dominance. Under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, RCB Women didn’t just qualify— they bossed the league stage.

• They finished with 6 wins from 8 games.

• They topped the points table with 12 points.

• Their net run rate of $+1.247$ shows just how commanding their wins were.

RCB started the season like a runaway train. Five wins on the trot, statement victories, and a brand of confident, attacking cricket that made them look almost untouchable. They weren’t just scraping through—they were outplaying teams in all three departments.

Then came the wobble.

Back-to-back defeats against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians made things a little tense. Suddenly, questions popped up. Had teams figured them out? Were they peaking too early? But the sign of a champion side is how it responds when challenged. RCB answered in style.

Their final league game against UP Warriorz was as close to a must-win as it gets in terms of securing a direct ticket to the Final. They turned up, played with purpose, and sealed the result with authority. That win not only confirmed their top spot but also spared them the pressure of an Eliminator.

Now, with a direct entry into the Final, extra rest, and a truckload of confidence, RCB sit exactly where every other team wishes they were—one step away from the WPL 2026 trophy.

Gujarat Giants: The Great Comeback Of WPL 2026

WPL 2026 Playoff Teams, If RCB’s season was about sustained dominance, Gujarat Giants’ campaign was about resilience and revival. At one stage, they looked closer to crashing out than challenging for the top two.

Their journey went something like this:

• Early on, they won 2 games but then slumped to 3 consecutive losses.

• At that point, their season stood on a knife-edge.

• They needed to win their last 3 league matches— and they did exactly that.

That turnaround wasn’t just statistical; it was emotional. A team that looked shaken suddenly found belief, tightened up its game, and delivered under pressure. Winning three must-win games in a row is tough in any league, let alone in a tournament as competitive as the WPL.

Gujarat wrapped up the league phase with:

• 5 wins, 3 losses, 10 points.

• A net run rate of $-0.168$, which shows some of their early defeats were heavy.

But momentum often matters more than NRR at the business end of a season. And the Giants have that in bucketloads. They’ve also achieved their best-ever league-stage finish, securing second place and storming into the Eliminator.

Going into the playoffs, they carry the look of that dangerous team nobody really wants to face—especially in a knockout game where form and confidence can tilt everything.

Delhi Capitals: From Serial Table-Toppers To Scraping Through

For the first three WPL seasons, Delhi Capitals were the league-phase specialists. They finished top of the table in:

• 2023

• 2024

• 2025

Even though they couldn’t convert any of those into a title, they were always the most consistent side across the group stages. But 2026 told a different story.

This time, Delhi found themselves working much harder just to stay in the top three. They didn’t dominate—they survived.

Key points from their season:

• 4 wins, 4 losses, 8 points.

• A slightly negative NRR of $-0.055$.

• A must-win final league match against UP Warriorz to stay alive.

That last game was effectively a shootout for survival. Delhi had to show all their experience and composure to get past a Warriorz side with nothing to lose. They did, and that win turned out to be massive—it pulled them ahead of Mumbai Indians in the qualification race.

The Capitals finished third, edging Mumbai on points and booking a spot in the Eliminator against the in-form Gujarat Giants. It’s a tougher road than they’re used to—no direct Final, no table-topping comfort—but if any team knows how to handle big-stage pressure, it’s Delhi. They’ve been here, again and again. The question is: can they finally go one step further?

Mumbai Indians: The Shock Exit Nobody Saw Coming

WPL 2026 Playoff Teams, If there’s one headline that sums up WPL 2026, it’s this: Mumbai Indians failed to make the playoffs.

This is the same Mumbai Indians who:

• Won the title in 2023.

• Won again in 2025.

• Reached the Final three times in a row from 2023 to 2025.

In other words, not just a strong team— a dynasty in the making. Which is why their 2026 campaign has stunned fans and pundits alike.

Under Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, Mumbai Indians have long been the gold standard of balance and temperament. But this year, they just couldn’t stitch together consistent performances.

Their final league numbers:

• 3 wins, 5 losses, 6 points.

• A net run rate of $+0.059$, which shows they weren’t being blown away, but they were on the wrong side of tight contests.

And that’s the key. A string of narrow defeats in the middle phase of the season hurt them badly. They had games in the bag and let them slip—classic mid-season slump, and in a short tournament like the WPL, that’s often fatal.

Their win over RCB late in the league showed flashes of the old Mumbai Indians: calm under pressure, tactically sharp, and ruthless in execution. But it arrived a bit too late. Others had already surged ahead, and in the final playoff race, Delhi just managed to stay in front.

For the first time in WPL history, Mumbai Indians will watch the playoffs from the sidelines. It’s a brutal reminder that in franchise cricket, past trophies don’t buy you future safety.

UP Warriorz: Different Support Staff, Same Old Story

You’ve heard the phrase “change everything and hope for a different result.” That was pretty much the UP Warriorz approach before WPL 2026.

They made a big call by revamping their backroom setup and bringing in IPL-winning coach Abhishek Nayar in a bid to reset their fortunes. On paper, it looked like a step in the right direction: fresh ideas, new systems, renewed energy.

On the field, though, the results told a familiar tale.

UP Warriorz ended the league stage:

• Bottom of the table, 5th place.

• 2 wins, 6 losses, 4 points.

• The worst net run rate of the season at $-1.076$.

Their batting depth, or lack of it, hurt them repeatedly. Too often, they got decent starts only to collapse in the middle overs. Chasing moderate targets became tricky; setting competitive totals became a struggle. In a league where even small margins matter, their structural issues kept dragging them down.

The Warriorz did show fight in patches and even played party-poopers at times, but as a campaign, it never really caught fire. For a franchise that has invested heavily in change, this season will sting. The questions going forward won’t just be about tactics—they’ll be about squad balance, recruitment, and identity.

WPL Roll Of Honor: A Quick Look Back (2023–2025)

WPL 2026 Playoff Teams, To understand how dramatic WPL 2026 has been, it helps to look at what came before it. Here’s a snapshot of the first three seasons:

• 2023 – Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by 7 wickets.

• 2024 – RCB beat Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets.

• 2025 – Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by 8 runs.

Delhi Capitals have been the perennial finalists and table-toppers yet remain title-less. Mumbai Indians have been the early era’s dominant champions with two titles. RCB broke through with their 2024 win.

Now, in 2026:

• Mumbai are out before the knockouts.

• Delhi are no longer top dogs in the league phase.

• RCB are back in front, looking like the team to beat once more.

The old order is wobbling, and a new balance of power is slowly taking shape.

How The WPL 2026 Playoffs Are Shaping Up

With the league stage wrapped up, here’s how the playoffs stack up:

• RCB Women – Straight into the Final as table toppers.

• Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals – Clash in the Eliminator.

The winner of the Eliminator will face RCB in the Final. The loser goes home. Simple, brutal, and perfectly in line with the high-stakes nature of the WPL.

So what do these matchups really look like?

• RCB have the advantage of extra rest, more prep time, and the comfort of knowing they need just one more big performance to lift the trophy.

• Gujarat ride into the Eliminator on the back of three straight wins and their best-ever group-stage campaign.

• Delhi bring experience, familiarity with big knockout games, and a history of making it to finals—even if they’ve never finished the job.

It’s a fascinating mix: a surging challenger, a seasoned nearly-champion, and a confident table-topper.

Key Themes From The WPL 2026 League Stage

When you zoom out of the table and look at the bigger picture, a few strong themes jump out from this season.

1. Consistency Still Wins Leagues
   RCB’s rise proves an old truth: in franchise cricket, consistency beats occasional brilliance. Six solid wins, dominant NRR, and early momentum set the tone for their entire campaign.

2. Momentum Matters More Than History
   Gujarat Giants had very little in the way of historical pedigree compared to Mumbai or Delhi, but they hit form at the right time. Three must-win games, three wins, and suddenly they’re in the top two.

3. Past Dominance Guarantees Nothing
   Mumbai Indians’ exit is a warning sign to every established team. Titles from 2023 and 2025 didn’t save them in 2026. If you don’t adapt and execute each season, the league moves on without you.

4. Fine Margins Decide Futures
   Delhi just about stayed ahead in the qualification race, Mumbai lost grip in tight games, UP Warriorz kept falling short in pressure moments. In a short tournament, a couple of close results can reshape the entire table.

5. Depth Is As Important As Stars
   While stars win you moments, depth wins you tournaments. UP’s lack of batting depth and some teams’ overreliance on a few players were ruthlessly exposed over eight games.

Who Gained And Who Lost The Most In WPL 2026?

WPL 2026 Playoff Teams, If we look beyond just wins and losses, we can ask: who really moved forward this season?

• Biggest Gainers: RCB & Gujarat Giants
  RCB not only finished top but also sent a clear message that their 2024 title wasn’t a one-off. Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, transformed from mid-table strugglers to genuine contenders with their best league finish yet.

• Holding Ground: Delhi Capitals
  Delhi didn’t dominate, but they didn’t collapse either. They went from top-of-table regulars to scrap-through survivors—but they still made the playoffs. Their big test now is whether they can finally turn playoff experience into silverware.

• Biggest Losers: Mumbai Indians & UP Warriorz
  For Mumbai, missing the playoffs is not just a bad season—it’s an identity shock. For UP Warriorz, another bottom-table finish despite major changes raises deeper questions about planning and structure.

What To Expect From The WPL 2026 Knockouts

You don’t need a crystal ball to know the Women’s Premier League 2026 playoffs are going to be intense. But based on the league stage, a few narratives are already shaping up.

• Can RCB turn league dominance into a title, or will we see another twist in the tale?

• Will Gujarat Giants carry their red-hot momentum through the Eliminator and into the Final?

• Can Delhi Capitals finally break the pattern: so many finals, no trophy yet?

The Eliminator will likely be a high-pressure chess match between Gujarat’s current form and Delhi’s big-game experience. Whoever wins that will walk into the Final high on adrenaline—but with less rest than RCB.

RCB, meanwhile, will be watching closely, plotting matchups, and preparing to face whichever challenger emerges. They have the luxury of time; whether they turn that into an edge will be one of the defining questions of the Final.

Similar Articles: Nadine de Klerk Cricket Career: The journey of RCB’s last-over finisher and global franchise star

Conclusion

WPL 2026 Playoff Teams, WPL has been a reminder of why franchise cricket captivates fans the way it does. Nothing is static. Power shifts, new stories emerge, and old giants stumble.

• RCB have risen as the new standard-bearers of consistency and dominance.

• Gujarat Giants have shown how resilience and timing can completely change a season.

• Delhi Capitals have stayed alive, but with a tougher path than ever before.

• Mumbai Indians have learned the hard way that dynasties can crumble faster than they’re built.

• UP Warriorz have work to do—deep structural, not just cosmetic.

As the league moves into the playoffs, one thing is certain: the trophy will not be handed to anyone based on history. It will go to the team that handles the pressure of the moment better than the rest.