Really tough to take: Batty rues fourth straight final loss for DC

Delhi Capitals coach Jonathan Batty was left reflecting on another agonising loss as their wait for a WPL title continued. They became only the second team in women's franchise cricket to lose four finals, after Brisbane Heat, following their defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2026 final.

Carrying momentum from the Eliminator and having posted 203 for 4, the highest first-innings total in Vadodara, DC felt they had a good chance. But a record partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll steered RCB home.

Speaking after the game, Batty said: "It's really tough to take. Having played so well in the Eliminator earlier in the week, and coming into this game with momentum, putting a really good score on the board… Twenty overs in, you think, 'okay it's a good score, if we bowl well here, we've got a very good chance.'

"Really disappointing to come out on the wrong end of it again. But full credit to RCB, obviously those two batters played absolutely fantastically. But I'm really proud of our team's effort, to still be in the game there… to still be in that last over and lose with only two balls to go – I think we showed a lot of fight.

"We're obviously doing something really right if we're getting to four finals in a row. If you keep putting yourself in the finals, you will win one. I thought today was our day. I really did."

Asked if DC could have done anything differently, Batty felt there were few regrets.

"Look, I think we've bowled well at times all through the tournament. I think those two batters played really, really well there. Smriti's one of the best batters in the world right now. Georgia's a high-quality player as well… I'm really proud of the way the bowling unit's gone for the whole tournament.

"The margins in T20 cricket are so small. The game is never done. And, you know, 13 runs needed, eight balls I think left in the game, a dot ball there or two, and all of a sudden the pressure ramps up… But it is horrible to lose in the last over with just a couple of balls to go."

Batty praised new captain Jemimah Rodrigues for her leadership after a difficult start to the season.

"Hugely proud of Jemi. I think particularly losing the first couple of games of the tournament, she was probably under quite a bit of pressure there. She brought her energy and her experience to the table. Obviously, batting-wise, she contributed a lot of runs as well through the tournament. I thought she made outstanding decisions as captain.

"Her leadership grew and grew as we went through it as well. So, I'm really proud of the effort she's put in."

Batty was also pleased with the bowling performance of newcomer Nandni Sharma, the 24-year-old seamer who finished with 17 wickets – the joint most for the season.

"She's been fantastic. From game one, she was full of energy. Her skill was absolutely outstanding. Swinging the new ball, her change-ups, nailing her yorkers at the death… She's trained incredibly hard.

"She's worked really hard on those different elements of her skill… She wants to learn. She wants to work hard and wants to keep learning. And I'm so proud that she's, for me, been the standout bowler of the tournament," Batty said.