![Delhi Capitals lost their third consecutive final [Source: @DelhiCapitals/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1742107179692_DelhiCapitalsWomenWPL2025.jpg?type=tq)
Delhi Capitals lost their third consecutive final [Source: @DelhiCapitals/x.com]
There is an old saying in sports: big teams win leagues, but great teams win finals. And if there’s one team in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) that embodies the agony of coming so close, yet so far, it’s Delhi Capitals Women.
Three seasons, three top-of-the-table finishes, three straight finals and heartbreak every single time. If there was ever an award for the most consistent heartbreakers, DC Women would be undisputed champions.
Third Time’s Not The Charm
This season was supposed to be different. After back-to-back losses in the 2023 and 2024 WPL finals, Delhi Capitals Women were determined to break the jinx.
They did all the hard work, finishing at the top of the points table for the third straight season, booking a direct ticket to the final. But once again, when it mattered the most, they collapsed under pressure and handed Mumbai Indians Women their second WPL title with an eight-run win.
Three Finals, Three Losses: A Pattern Too Hard To Ignore
At this point, it’s no longer a coincidence. Delhi Capitals Women have been phenomenal in the league stage, bossing the competition and finishing first on the points table every single time. Yet, when they step onto the big stage, they somehow find a way to fall short.
The heartbreak started in 2023, when they were dismantled by Mumbai Indians Women in the final. A year later in 2024, they had a shot at redemption but found themselves on the receiving end of a dominant RCB Women performance. Now, in 2025, they’ve come full circle, once again losing to Mumbai Indians Women in the final.
Delhi Capitals Women In WPL Finals
Three finals, three painful losses. No other team has been as consistently good in the league stage and no other team has been as consistently bad in the final.
| Year | Opponent | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Mumbai Indians | Lost | 7 Wickets |
| 2024 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women | Lost | 8 Wickets |
| 2025 | Mumbai Indians | Lost | 8 Runs |
![[Watch] Catch Of WPL Final! Jemimah Grabs A Stunner As DC Push MI On Back Foot](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1742051152299_jemimah_catch (3).jpg?type=tq)
What Went Wrong This Time?
Unlike their previous two finals, where they were completely outplayed, this one was different. Delhi Capitals Women were in the driver’s seat for a large part of the game. They bowled beautifully, restricting Mumbai Indians to just 149/7, and on paper, it looked like a chaseable target. But cricket is played on the pitch, not on paper.
Once again, the pressure of the big stage seemed to get to them. The top-order collapsed, with Shafali Verma, Meg Lanning, and Jess Jonassen all departing cheaply. Marizanne Kapp played a fighting knock (40 off 26), but there was little support from the other end.
Even though Niki Prasad (25 off 23) and Jemimah Rodrigues (30 off 21) tried to steady the ship, DC never really looked comfortable in the chase. Mumbai’s bowlers led by Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amelia Kerr kept it tight and choked the runs and forcing DC’s batters into mistakes.
In the end, Delhi Capitals Women fell short by eight runs and the trophy once again slipped through their grasp.
Why Can’t DC Women Handle The Finals?
At this point, it's beyond just bad luck. Losing one final can be chalked up to a bad day. Losing two? Maybe it's a mental block. But losing three in a row? That points to a deeper issue that the team surely needs to address.
The Occasion Gets To Them
Delhi’s core players have performed well throughout the season but when the final comes around, they look like a completely different side. The pressure of a final is different: it’s where champions are made and pretenders are exposed. And time and again, DC Women have crumbled under pressure.
Lack Of A Finisher
They have had solid performances throughout the season but in a final, you need someone who can stand up and finish the game. Mumbai Indians Women had Harmanpreet Kaur leading from the front but DC lacked a true game-changer in the final overs.
Failing To Adapt
Great teams find a way to win, no matter the conditions. DC Women, despite dominating the league stage have shown an inability to adapt when things don’t go their way in the final. If their top order fails, they struggle to recover. If their bowling doesn’t click, they don’t have a Plan B.
Where Do DC Women Go From Here?
Delhi Capitals Women have built a team that excels in the league stage but can’t seem to cross the finish line. It’s frustrating for the fans, heartbreaking for the players and a puzzle that Meg Lanning & Co. need to solve.
One thing is clear: finishing at the top means nothing if you can’t win the trophy. Next season, they will need to bring in not just skill and talent but also a fearless mindset that thrives under pressure. Because in the world of cricket, nobody remembers the runners-up, only the champions.
And Delhi Capitals Women can’t afford to be just the bridesmaid forever!
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