DC Women Playoffs 2026: Qualification Scenario Explained

Delhi Capitals Women find themselves in deep trouble midway through the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. After four matches, the Jemimah Rodrigues-led team sits at the bottom of the points table, having managed just one win and three defeats. With only two points and the worst net run rate in the competition, Delhi’s margin for error has completely vanished.

Delhi Capitals Women's campaign in WPL 2026

DC began their season with a heavy 50-run loss to defending champions Mumbai Indians Women, collapsing early while chasing 196. That was followed by a four-run defeat against Gujarat Giants Women, where they came close to pulling off a record chase of 210. 

Their lone victory came against UP Warriorz Women, a seven-wicket win where the batting unit finally contributed. However, any momentum gained was lost as Delhi suffered an eight-wicket defeat to an in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women's team. Across four matches, DC have scored 674 runs while conceding 727.

In previous seasons, Delhi were among the most consistent new-ball teams, but in WPL 2026, they have conceded at 8.6 runs per over in the first six overs, the second-worst rate in any WPL season. Notably, they have taken just three powerplay wickets in four matches, the fewest among all teams.

The exit of Shikha Pandey and Marizanne Kapp’s delayed return to peak have hurt DC’s early breakthroughs. Meanwhile, batting has been equally problematic. DC’s middle order (positions 4 to 7) has produced the second-worst average by any team across WPL seasons. 

Delhi Capitals Women's position in points table

After four games, Delhi Capitals Women are placed fifth with one win and three losses in four games and have two points under their belt. Notably, they have a negative NRR of 0.856.

They trail all four other teams, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women already cruising at the top with five wins from five games. Even the mid-table teams, Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz, and Gujarat Giants, have double the points DC possesses.

DC Women's Playoffs 2026: Qualification Scenario Explained

Delhi Capitals Women are now in a must-win situation. To stay alive in the playoff race following are the qualification scenarios: 

Win all four games: They must win all four remaining league matches. Even four wins may not guarantee qualification due to their poor NRR. Furthermore, they will also need favourable results from other teams, especially hoping the mid-table sides beat each other

Winning anything less than four: Anything fewer than four wins will almost certainly eliminate DC from playoff contention. Even if they finish on 10 points, net run rate could still knock them out, making dominant victories crucial.