The Eliminator of the Women’s Premier League 2026 is set to take place at the Kotambi Stadium, where Gujarat Giants will face Delhi Capitals on February 3.
Gujarat Giants have qualified for the Eliminator for the second consecutive season. They began their campaign with back-to-back wins, followed by three losses, before finishing strongly with three straight victories to seal qualification. Sophie Devine has been their standout performer. For a side heavily reliant on overseas players, contributions from Devine, Georgia Wareham and captain Ashleigh Gardner, alongside Beth Mooney, have powered GG into another knockout, this time in front of a home crowd.
Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, are playing their first Eliminator in four seasons, having reached the final directly in the previous three editions. DC had an inconsistent league phase but did enough to get through. Their bowlers have led the charge, with four of their six main bowlers currently among the top 10 wicket-takers in the tournament.
Head-to-head record in WPL
Overall: 8 matches – GG 4, DC 4
At Kotambi Stadium: 1 match – GG 1, DC 0
GG record at Kotambi Stadium: 7 matches – Won 4, Lost 3
DC record at Kotambi Stadium: 7 matches – Won 5, Lost 2
What happened in the two league meetings this season?
At DY Patil Stadium
It was a high-scoring encounter earlier this season. GG posted 209 in 20 overs, with Devine smashing 95 off 42 balls and Gardner adding 49 off 26. A late burst from Nandni Sharma, who claimed four wickets in the final over including a hat-trick, restricted further damage.
In reply, DC recovered from an early blow through a 90-run stand between Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt. With seven needed off the final over, DC were favourites, but Devine dismissed both Jemimah Rodrigues and Wolvaardt to defend six runs and seal a four-run win. Devine was named Player of the Match.
At Kotambi Stadium
Gujarat Giants completed a historic double over Delhi Capitals, defending a total in remarkably similar fashion. After posting 174/9, GG once again turned to Devine at the death, and she delivered. Beth Mooney anchored the innings, while Anushka Sharma’s brisk 39 provided early momentum. Though DC fought back through Shree Charani, late runs from Tanuja Kanwer and a stream of extras lifted GG to a competitive total.
DC started strongly but lost wickets in clusters, slipping to 100/6. A dramatic 66-run partnership between Sneh Rana and Niki Prasad brought them back into contention.
With nine needed off the final over, Devine held her nerve, removing both set batters to secure a three-run win and complete the double.
Players to watch
GG: Sophie Devine
Devine is the Purple Cap holder with 17 wickets in eight matches and has also scored 237 runs. Against DC, she has delivered two match-winning final overs and was Player of the Match in one of those games. Across two matches versus DC this season, she has scored 108 runs and taken six wickets. If GG are to reach their first-ever WPL final, another Devine intervention may be required.
DC: Marizanne Kapp
Marizanne Kapp’s batting returns have been modest, but her powerplay bowling remains crucial. A proven match-winner, she has six Player of the Match awards in WPL history. In WPL 2026 powerplay overs, Kapp has taken seven wickets in eight innings, conceding at just 5.16 runs per over with 90 dot balls. With GG heavily dependent on their top order, Jemimah Rodrigues will again look to Kapp for early breakthroughs.
Probable Playing XIs
Why change a winning formula? Both sides appear settled and are likely to field unchanged line-ups for this crucial match.
GG: Beth Mooney (wk), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Ashleigh Gardner (c), Georgia Wareham, Bharati Fulmali, Kanika Ahuja, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Renuka Thakur, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
DC: Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Chinelle Henry, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma
Also Read: WPL 2026: “I’ll be back next year” – Lanning
