The occasion maybe just got to the players, says Delhi Capitals coach Batty

Delhi Capitals face defeat in Women's Premier League finals despite strong starts, falling short in crucial moments.

In 2023 and 2024, Delhi Capitals seemed to be heading towards defeat at the halfway stage of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) final. Against Mumbai Indians in the inaugural season, a total of 131 for nine was all Meg Lanning’s team managed after electing to bat. Last year, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it was bundled out for 113 as Smriti Mandhana & Co. clinched an eight-wicket win.

During the mid-innings break of the final at the Brabourne Stadium on Saturday (March 15, 2025), in contrast, DC felt it was in the ascendancy, and backed its chances of chasing down 150 and winning its maiden title. But the batters faltered at the final hurdle yet again as MI sealed an eight-run victory.

“We have had three great seasons. To finish top of the table for three years running, we have played some amazing cricket. Everyone is hurting a huge amount at the moment. Around 99% of the time, you back yourself to chase 150 on that wicket there today,” Capitals coach Jonathan Batty said after a bitter end to the tournament. “The final is a big match. Maybe, the occasion just got to the players. But full credit to the MI bowlers for the way they bowled to defend that total. They executed their skills really well and made it really hard for us as a batting unit.”

Did the disappointment of losing the preceding two finals also have a bearing on the players heading into this fixture? “There was no negative talk about, oh, we’ve messed up in the last two finals. We’re going to take that baggage into this. There was none of that,” the Englishman asserted. “I thought they were really positive, really confident today going into the game. I’d say halfway through that game, we probably should be winning that game with the bat.”