RCB captain Smriti Mandhana hails key performances as Jemimah Rodrigues praises DC’s character after fourth straight final loss

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana described her team’s triumph in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) final as “amazing” after they clinched their second title in three years, crediting Lauren Bell’s decisive bowling spell and Georgia Voll’s fearless batting for the victory over Delhi Capitals (DC).

Chasing a daunting 204 — the highest total ever in a women’s T20 final — RCB crossed the line with two balls to spare and six wickets in hand. While most RCB bowlers conceded runs at over nine an over, Bell stood out with an economical spell of 4 overs for just 19 runs, including 12 dot balls. Mandhana felt that spell made a crucial difference in keeping the target within reach.

“We definitely thought it was a good surface to bat on,” Mandhana said at the presentation ceremony. “But 200-plus in a final is always a strong score. I thought we pulled it back well in the last four overs, and again, full credit to Lauren Bell. When 400 runs are scored in a match and she goes for around 20 in four overs, that’s a match-winning spell for me.”

RCB’s chase was powered by a sensational 165-run partnership off just 92 balls between Mandhana and Georgia Voll after the early loss of Grace Harris. The stand reduced the equation to a manageable 30 off 21 balls. Voll took charge early with aggressive intent, allowing Mandhana to later accelerate and bring up her fastest WPL half-century, off just 23 balls. Mandhana finished with a commanding 87 off 41 balls at a strike rate of 212.19.

“Volly led the way,” Mandhana said. “She took most of the strike in the powerplay and her intent was spot-on. I remember telling the girls 10 or 15 days ago that I had a feeling Volly would play a match-winning knock in the final. She’s been working extremely hard, even putting in extra practice over the last few days, and I’m really happy it paid off for her.”

RCB achieved the title despite missing their star allrounder Ellyse Perry, who opted out of the season for personal reasons. Mandhana highlighted the role of the support staff in providing clear roles and confidence to the squad throughout the tournament.

“One thing that really stood out was the clarity the support staff gave the girls,” she said. “From the time of the auction, players were told exactly what was expected of them — batting positions, bowling phases. That makes a huge difference. Credit to Malo, Anya, and RX sir for that clarity. When roles are clear, leadership becomes much easier.”

She also pointed to the team’s work ethic as a major factor behind their successful chase. “When you work hard in the gym and on the field, it builds belief. We genuinely felt that even with 200 on the board, we could chase it down. What Voll did, though, was really special.”

On the other side, Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues, who has now experienced four final defeats with the franchise, praised her team’s resilience and character despite the disappointment.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” Rodrigues said. “It wasn’t easy, but the character the girls showed to make it to the final means a lot to me. I couldn’t have asked for anything better in terms of effort.”

Rodrigues top-scored for DC with a crucial 57 off 37 balls and shared a 76-run partnership for the third wicket with Laura Wolvaardt, setting the stage for Chinelle Henry’s late surge of 35 off 15 balls.

“204 in a final is always a great score,” Rodrigues said. “I’m really proud of the way we played as a team. If there was ever a day we wanted everything to click, it was today, and I think it did. Everyone fought hard, everyone gave their all, and sometimes that’s what matters most.”