Delhi Capitals Head Coach Jonathan Batty said past midnight on Friday that it felt really tough to take after his team was defeated in their fourth successive WPL final. This time, DC had come close to their maiden title, which it could not in the past three. Batty said: "Having played so well in the Eliminator earlier in the week, and coming into this game with momentum, and then putting a really good score on the board. I was proud of the way we went about our business with the bat." DC's Performance in the Match DC opened their innings with 203 to prepare for the game, indicating they were not just a team to chase and win, contrary to their five wins to suggest otherwise. However, after the solid contribution of 165 runs from 92 balls between Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll, DC created a brief scare that soon developed into near-panic. As quoted by ESPNCricinfo, Batty also said that after 20 overs, it was a good score, and the chances of a good result were anticipated if good bowling was done, though the feeling was one of disappointment at the end of the match, losing once again, while full credit to RCB for the match, especially the innings played by Georgia Voll and Smriti. Also Read | From Orange cap to Fair Play Award: Full list of individual winners in 2026 Women's Premier League As 13 were needed off eight, a scrambling catch at extra cover was spilled by Minnu Mani, giving Radha Yadav a first-ball reprieve, and that could have changed the game. The catch was one that came after Mandhana and Richa Ghosh were dismissed. Needing 8 off 4, Radha then broke her former franchise’s hearts, hitting successive boundaries in the final over. Batty also said that pride came from the effort put in to stay in the game as it appeared to slip away from the team. Reaching the final and losing with only two balls remaining was a measure of a good fight shown. The game reflected the season as a whole, with aspects executed very well, yet others seeming to disappear from time to time. Batty praised Jemimah Rodrigues for her maiden season as DC captain, calling her a young leader who grew into the role and learned with every game. He said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo: "I'm 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, but she brought her energy and her experience to the table. Obviously, batting-wise, she contributed a lot of runs through the tournament. But I thought she made outstanding decisions as captain throughout the whole tournament. Her leadership grew and grew as we went through it as well. So, I'm really proud of the effort she's put in. She's thrown her heart and soul into this season. So, I'm looking forward to seeing where she takes that over the next few years as well." Even from hindsight, Batty was unsure if DC would have been able to do anything different in their use of the ball to prevent Mandhana and Voll achieving in the final, possibly using Marizanne Kapp earlier in her fourth over. By the time she came in, RCB were in need of 54 off 36 balls and had nine wickets in hand. Read Also | Smriti Mandhana Shines for RCB Despite Suffering from Flu As quoted by ESPNCricinfo, he said: "We've used her all through the tournament like that in terms of bringing her back and trying to break partnerships. On a really good wicket, that was going to be a really tough ask for her as well. There was obviously no seam movement out there. I think those two batters played really, really well there. I mean, Smriti's one of the best batters in the world right now. Georgia's a high-quality player as well. A batter makes a mistake and lets us into the game. They didn't. So, no, I'm really proud of the way the bowling unit's gone for the whole tournament. Even with 13 off 8 needed, you bowl a dot ball or two, a batter mishits, and you're right in it. So, we knew we still had a chance. But it is horrible to lose in the last over with just a couple of balls to go when the players have poured their heart and soul into it." Batty admitted he was unsure what exact formula DC needed to finally win a WPL final. He said with a sorrowful smile: "Well, the common denominator is we keep losing. I'm really proud. We're obviously doing something really right if we're getting to four finals in a row. I've said it before, I'll say it again. If you keep putting yourself in the finals, you will win one. I thought today was our day. I really did." Even in defeat, Batty took positives, especially uncapped seamer Nandani Sharma, who ended with 17 wickets, the joint-highest of the season alongside Sophie Devine. He said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo: "She has been fantastic. She's been on our radar for a little while. I'm just obviously delighted. 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, those slower balls into the wicket. She's trained incredibly hard as well, all through, since our pre-tournament camp in Goa. She has worked really hard on those different elements of her skill delivery through different phases of the game. She's picked my brain. She's picked our bowling coach's brain as well. She's talked to the senior bowlers. She's been talking to Kappy. She wants to learn. She wants to work hard and wants to keep learning. And I'm so proud. She has, for me, been the standout bowler of the tournament."