Meg Lanning in Tears as Delhi Capitals Suffer Second Consecutive WPL Final Defeat; Receives ‘Best Team’ Support from Ganguly

In the WPL 2024 final held on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Delhi Capitals initially seemed to have a firm grip on the game, with captain Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma dominating the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bowlers. However, the match took a dramatic turn after Sophie Molineux’s remarkable triple strike in a single over, completely shifting the momentum against Delhi, who struggled to recover from the setback.

Despite Lanning’s resilient efforts and disciplined bowling from Delhi, which restricted RCB’s chase to 114, the target proved insufficient. Molineux’s exceptional over saw Delhi’s promising start of 64 for no loss collapse to 64 for three in just three deliveries. Subsequently, Shreyanka Patil wreaked havoc in the lower order, ultimately dismissing Delhi for a mere 113 runs in 18.3 overs.

RCB’s Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine provided a strong start to the chase with a 49-run partnership, although Delhi managed to control the run-scoring during the middle overs. Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh remained composed during the death overs, guiding RCB to victory with three balls to spare and securing their first WPL title with an eight-wicket win.

While RCB players celebrated exuberantly, Lanning was visibly devastated, standing alone and tearful as she processed the defeat. Sourav Ganguly, former India captain, praised Delhi Capitals as the “best team in the tournament” despite their loss, particularly lauding Lanning’s leadership.

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In response, Lanning acknowledged RCB’s deserving victory during the post-match presentation, expressing disappointment over the loss but acknowledging the unpredictable nature of cricket. She credited RCB for their resilient performance and thanked the support staff for their efforts, reflecting on the unpredictability of the sport.