WPL 2026 | Match 21: Playoff – GG vs DC | Preview and Prediction

The Gujarat Giants and the Delhi Capitals will do battle to find out who will earn the right to face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Grand Final of the WPL as they lock horns tonight in the Playoff of the 2026 Women’s Premier League Season.

Here is our Preview and Prediction for the game

WPL 2026 | Match 21: Playoff- Gujarat Giants vs Delhi Capitals | 19:30, 02 February

Gujarat Giants stamped their place in the Playoff courtesy of a rather tense and nervy win over defending champions Mumbai Indians, where it was a case of them holding their nerve in crunch situations just that bit better than their opponents. 

The Giants have had a pretty unpredictable tournament. They looked like they had all bases covered when they started off with two successive victories with Sophie Devine getting off to the races in typical devastating fashion. But a slew of defeats between a couple of grilling victories meant that they were not exactly the most consistent teams to begin with. 

However, their ability to be ice-cold in key moments of the game is a huge advantage that sets them apart given the amount of close games they have been part of and have emerged on the winning side every time.

GG will once again rely on their Trans-Tasman quartet of Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, and their skipper Ash Gardner to lead the charge. All the above-mentioned 4 players have been very crucial to the Giants’ run to the Playoff and their being on top of their games has to be crucial for them to reach their maiden Final in 4 seasons.

For Delhi Capitals, it has been 0-100 real quick in terms of reversing their fortunes from one venue to another. In Navi Mumbai, they won just one of their 4 matches. The moment they stepped foot in Vadodara, it felt like a switch in their momentum as they went on to win 3 out 4 in rather convincing fashion that only goes to show why they are now the only team to make the Knockout stages of the tournament in all the 4 seasons.

Jemimah Rodrigues has acquitted herself rather nicely as skipper, growing into the role with every passing game. While she might have wanted to score a tad few more with the bat, the fact that she has been marshalling her troops in the tournament deserves praise.

Apart from Jemimah, the likes of Lizelle Lee, Marizanne Kapp, Nandani Sharma, and Shafali Verma have all been key contributors, with the likes of Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad adding new and fresh impetus to the side, as seen with their near-heist against GG. 

The biggest problem for DC though, is their inability to beat their opponents that they face tomorrow. On both occasions, they brought the game to a situation where they were the favourites to win it. With 9 and 7 runs to win off the last over, the Capitals found improbable ways to capitulate both times against Sophie Devine to end up on the losing side both times. This will definitely play in the minds of the DC players and that could potentially be a huge mental block if the match once again goes to a nail-biting finish.

GG have managed to beat the Capitals both times they have faced each other this season, and will definitely fancy themselves to do the three-peat over them this season. But as we always know and have seen from time to time, form and momentum always go out of the window when it is knockout cricket of any form. 

However, it is the Gujarat Giants that will start as favourites in this match given the head-to-head in their favour as well as their ability to be calm and collected in pressure situations. But this contest has all the makings to be an all-timer, so we are in for a treat as it is.

Fantasy 11: Beth Mooney (wk), Lizelle Lee, Sophie Devine ( c ), Laura Wolwaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Ash Gardner, Sneh Rana, Georgia Wareham, Nandani Sharma, Kashvee Gautam.

Winners Prediction: Gujarat Giants

Venue: Vadodara International Stadium, Kotambi