Chasing 200-plus in a T20 game used to feel like mission impossible.
But the Women’s Premier League has flipped that script.
Since the first season in 2023, teams have walked out to chase monster totals with genuine belief, not blind hope.
What looked untouchable on paper has turned into reality through calculated hitting, smart partnerships, and nerves that hold when the pressure cranks up.
The WPL 2026 final took this trend to its peak.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down 204 against Delhi Capitals in Vadodara on 5 February 2026, lifting their second title and setting a record that goes beyond just the WPL.
It’s now the highest chase in any T20 final across men’s and women’s cricket worldwide.
RCB didn’t just break their own benchmark of 202 from the previous season—they proved that even finals can’t escape this batting revolution.
Here’s a deep dive into the six biggest run chases in WPL history, the players who made them happen, and the moments that changed each match.
Highest Successful Run Chases In WPL History
The Six Biggest Chases In WPL
| Rank | Team | Score | Target | Opposition | Venue | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCB | 204/4 | 204 | DC | Vadodara | 5 Feb 2026 |
| 2 | RCB | 202/4 | 202 | GG | Vadodara | 14 Feb 2025 |
| 3 | MI | 193/3 | 193 | GG | Navi Mumbai | 13 Jan 2026 |
| 4 | MI | 191/3 | 191 | GG | Delhi | 9 Mar 2024 |
| 5 | RCB | 189/2 | 189 | GG | Mumbai (BS) | 18 Mar 2023 |
| 6 | UPW | 181/7 | 179 | GG | Mumbai (BS) | 20 Mar 2023 |
RCB’s Record-Breaking Final Chase: 204 vs Delhi Capitals (2026)
Delhi Capitals looked set for their first WPL title after posting 203/4.
Jemimah Rodrigues anchored with 57 off 37, Laura Wolvaardt provided early fireworks with 44 off 25, and Chinelle Henry’s brutal finish of 35 off 15 balls pushed DC beyond 200. That total had never been chased in a WPL final before.
RCB lost Grace Harris in the third over with just nine on the board.
That’s when Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll began one of the great partnerships in women’s T20 history.
They added 165 runs for the second wicket, the WPL highest partnership for any wicket across all three seasons.
It’s also the highest stand in any women’s T20 final.
Mandhana reached her fifty in 23 balls—her fastest in the WPL—and finished with 87 off 41.
Voll played the perfect support act, scoring 79 off 54 while Mandhana dominated from the other end.
By the 14th over, RCB had crossed 150. The asking rate never felt threatening. They sealed the chase in 19.4 overs, winning by six wickets.
This chase sits second in all of women’s T20 cricket, behind only West Indies’ 213 against Australia in 2023.
Mandhana finished WPL 2026 with 377 runs, the WPL highest run scorer 2026 tally, earning the Orange Cap.
She also became just the fifth batter to cross 1,000 runs in WPL history.
Match Snapshot: RCB vs DC Final
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Result | RCB won by 6 wickets (2 balls left) |
| Player of the Match | Smriti Mandhana (87 off 41) |
| Key Partnership | 165 runs (Mandhana & Voll) |
| Historic Record | Highest chase in any T20 final |
| DC Total | 203/4 in 20 overs |
RCB’s Opening Night Statement: 202 vs Gujarat Giants (2025)
The 2025 season began with fireworks. Gujarat Giants posted 201/5, led by Ashleigh Gardner’s explosive 79 not out.
Gardner smashed eight sixes, equalling the record for most sixes in a single WPL innings.
Beth Mooney’s steady 56 off 42 gave the Giants a platform.
RCB stumbled early in their reply.
Both openers fell cheaply, and the required rate started climbing.
Ellyse Perry steadied things with 57 off 34, but the match truly turned when Richa Ghosh walked in.
She demolished the bowling with 64 off just 27 balls at a strike rate of 237.
Kanika Ahuja joined her for a match-winning stand of 93 runs in 37 balls. RCB finished at 202/4 in 18.3 overs, winning by six wickets.
Ghosh’s innings showed how quickly momentum can shift in T20 cricket.
Gujarat had the total, the crowd, and the early breakthroughs.
But two batters hitting their rhythm at the right time changed everything.
Mumbai Indians’ Clinical Chase: 193 vs Gujarat Giants (2026)
Gujarat Giants set Mumbai a target of 193 during the WPL 2026 league stage.
Georgia Wareham anchored with 43 off 33, while Bharti Fulmali’s late blitz of 36 off 15 gave the Giants a strong finish at 192/5.
Harmanpreet Kaur led Mumbai’s response with a captain’s knock of 71 off 43.
She combined with Carey for an 84-run partnership that broke Gujarat’s back.
Mumbai crossed the line with four balls remaining, chasing down what was then the third-highest WPL highest run chase in league history.
Harmanpreet rotated the strike effortlessly and found boundaries when needed.
Gujarat tried seven bowlers but couldn’t contain her.
When Amanjot fell early, Harmanpreet didn’t panic—she just shifted gears and finished the job.
Harmanpreet’s Masterclass: 191 vs Gujarat Giants (2024)
In Delhi during WPL 2024, Gujarat Giants posted 190/7.
Beth Mooney smashed 66 off 35, and Dayalan Hemalatha added 74 off 40.
That looked defendable until Harmanpreet Kaur stepped up.
Yastika Bhatia gave Mumbai a solid start with 49 off 36.
Then Harmanpreet took over.
She hammered 95 off 48 balls, one of the great individual knocks in WPL history.
Her 50-run partnership in 22 balls with Amelia Kerr broke the chase wide open. Mumbai won with one ball to spare in a genuine nail-biter.
This was pressure cricket at its finest.
The WPL highest run chase scorecard from that match shows how tight it got—Mumbai needed everything from Harmanpreet, and she delivered.
Sophie Devine’s Carnage: 189 vs Gujarat Giants (2023)
Gujarat Giants batted first at Brabourne Stadium and posted 188/4.
Laura Wolvaardt played beautifully for 68 off 35, with Ashleigh Gardner adding useful runs in the middle.
The Giants pushed hard late and crossed 150 in the 18th over.
RCB came out swinging.
They raced to 77 in the powerplay without losing a wicket.
Sophie Devine was unstoppable, reaching fifty in 20 balls and finishing with 99 off 36.
Smriti Mandhana anchored from the other end. RCB crossed 150 in just over 11 overs and completed the chase in 15.3 overs, winning by eight wickets.
Devine’s knock remains the WPL highest individual score in a match chase from the first season.
She didn’t just dominate—she destroyed.
Gujarat never got a foothold in that chase.
UP Warriorz’s Nerve Test: 181 vs Gujarat Giants (2023)
Gujarat Giants posted 178/6 after losing three wickets in the powerplay.
Dayalan Hemalatha steadied things with 50 off 30, and Ashleigh Gardner’s 50 off 35 helped them recover and push late.
UP Warriorz also lost three early wickets in reply but refused to fold.
Tahlia McGrath hit 50 off 34, bringing stability.
Grace Harris kept the momentum with 50 off 32. UPW reached 150 by 17.1 overs, but unlike other chases on this list, this one went deep into the final over.
They crossed the line despite losing seven wickets—a gutsy effort that showed belief under pressure.
Expert Insight: Why These Chases Work
These successful chases aren’t just about power hitting.
They follow patterns.
Most start with at least one batter getting set early. Partnerships break the back of the chase—notice how many featured 80+ run stands.
Smart rotation of strike keeps the required rate under control, and boundaries arrive in clusters rather than being forced.
Psychological momentum matters too.
When one partnership takes 60-70 runs off the target, the chasing team starts believing.
The fielding side tightens up, and errors creep in.
That’s when chases shift from difficult to inevitable.
Vadodara’s pitch has also played a role.
It’s offered consistent bounce and pace, rewarding clean striking.
RCB chased both 202 and 204 at the same venue, and that’s no coincidence.
How RCB And Mumbai Dominate Big Chases
RCB owns three of the top six chases, including the record. Mumbai holds two spots.
That’s not random, it’s depth.
Both teams have explosive openers, stable middle orders, and finishers who can hit from ball one.
When you have Mandhana, Voll, Perry, and Ghosh in one lineup, or Harmanpreet, Yastika, and Kerr in another, 200 doesn’t feel impossible.
Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, appear on the losing side in five of these six chases.
They’ve posted big totals but struggled to defend them.
Their bowling depth hasn’t matched their batting firepower, and that gap shows when the pressure’s on.
What Does The Women’s IPL Highest Score Team Look Like?
The Women’s IPL highest score team total in WPL is 223/3, posted by Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Delhi Capitals in 2025.
That same season saw multiple teams cross 200.
Batting conditions have improved, players have grown more confident, and boundaries have gotten shorter in some venues.
But here’s the thing: posting the WPL highest score team total doesn’t guarantee a win anymore.
Five of the six chases listed here saw teams defend 178 or higher and still lose.
That shift in mindset from defending 190 to needing 210 shows how quickly the WPL is evolving.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the highest successful run chase in WPL history?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased 204 against Delhi Capitals in the 2026 final at Vadodara. It’s also the highest chase in any T20 final worldwide.
- Which team has the most successful big chases in WPL?
RCB holds three of the top six chases, including the all-time record. The Mumbai Indians have two.
- Who scored the most runs in WPL 2026?
Smriti Mandhana finished as the WPL highest run scorer 2026 with 377 runs, earning the Orange Cap.
- What is the highest partnership in WPL history?
Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll’s 165-run stand for the second wicket in the 2026 final is the WPL highest partnership.
- Has any team chased 200+ more than once in WPL?
Yes. RCB chased 202 in 2025 and 204 in 2026, both at Vadodara.
Why These Chases Matter Beyond Numbers?
These six matches aren’t just records, they’ve changed how teams approach batting second in T20 cricket.
Walking out to chase 190 used to feel like desperation mode. Now it’s a realistic target if you’ve got depth and belief.
RCB’s double strike at Vadodara chasing 202 and then 204 proved that even finals aren’t safe from monster chases.
Mumbai’s repeated success against big totals showed that captains like Harmanpreet can single-handedly shift outcomes.
And UP Warriorz’s gritty finish in the first season set the tone for what was possible.
Five of these chases came against Gujarat Giants, but Delhi Capitals joined the list in the 2026 final.
As batting lineups grow deeper and players gain experience in pressure situations, even bigger chases could arrive soon.
For fans, that means more last-ball finishes, more partnerships that flip matches, and cricket that refuses to die until the final delivery.
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