The league stage of the TATA WPL 2026 is down to its final hours. While Smriti Mandhana’s RCB has already booked a direct ticket to the final in Vadodara, and the Gujarat Giants have shrugged off their "underdog" tag to secure an Eliminator spot, three teams are still mathematically alive for the third and final playoff berth.
With Mumbai Indians (MI) having finished all their games, the spotlight shifts entirely to the final league clash: Delhi Capitals (DC) vs UP Warriorz (UPW).
Here is how each team can join Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on February 3.
1. Delhi Capitals: The Master of Their Own Destiny
For Meg Lanning's former side (now led by Jemimah Rodrigues), the equation is the simplest in the competition. Magicwin They don't need to look at calculators or other results.
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The Scenario: Win against UP Warriorz.
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The Outcome: A win by any margin takes DC to 8 points, leapfrogging Mumbai Indians (6 points) and securing the 3rd spot.
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Current Status: As of the latest updates, DC bowlers have restricted UPW to a modest 122/8. They are the heavy favorites to qualify.
2. Mumbai Indians: The Waiting Game
The defending champions are in the nervous position of having no games left to play. After their recent 11-run loss to Gujarat Giants, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side finished with 6 points and a Net Run Rate (NRR) of +0.059.
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The Scenario: UP Warriorz must beat Delhi Capitals.
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The Safety Net: Mumbai has a significantly better NRR than UPW (-1.146). If UPW wins a close game, both teams (along with DC) will be tied on 6 points. In this three-way tie, MI’s superior NRR would almost certainly see them through.
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The Catch: MI fans need to pray for a UPW victory, but not too big a victory.
3. UP Warriorz: Searching for a Miracle
The Warriorz are hanging by a thread. With only 4 points and the worst NRR in the league, they need a performance that would break world records.
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The Scenario: Beat Delhi Capitals by a massive margin (approx. 156 runs if batting first) OR chase a target in roughly 1.5 to 2.0 overs.
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The Reality Check: While mathematically possible, the broadcasters have already noted that after scoring only 122 in the first innings of the final game, UPW can no longer realistically bridge the NRR gap to Mumbai Indians.
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The Role of Spoiler: Even if they can't qualify, a win for UPW would act as a "Kingmaker" move, knocking out DC and sending MI into the playoffs.
Points Table Snapshot (Before final match conclusion)
|
Team |
Played |
Won |
Lost |
Points |
NRR |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RCB |
8 |
6 |
2 |
12 |
+1.247 |
Qualified (Final) |
|
GG |
8 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
-0.271 |
Qualified (Eliminator) |
|
MI |
8 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
+0.059 |
Awaiting Results |
|
DC |
7 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
-0.164 |
Must Win |
|
UPW |
7 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
-1.146 |
Needs a Miracle |
What’s Next?
The winner of this three-way tussle will face the Gujarat Giants in the Eliminator on Tuesday, February 3. The victor of that match will then move on to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the grand final on February 5 at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara.
Will we see a new champion this year, or can the heavyweights MI and DC find a way back into the title picture? Stay tuned as the final overs of the league stage unfold!