Georgia Voll has significantly bolstered her growing reputation as one of Australia's emerging cricket stars with a magnificent performance that propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to victory in the Women's Premier League final in India. The thrilling match, described as the most compelling final in the tournament's history, saw RCB successfully chase down a record target to claim their second title in three years.
Voll's Match-Winning Innings
The 22-year-old Queenslander delivered when it mattered most, crafting a superb 79 runs from just 54 deliveries that included 14 boundaries. This came after what had been a challenging season back home in the Women's Big Bash League, making her performance particularly noteworthy. Voll formed a formidable 165-run partnership with her captain Smriti Mandhana, matching the Indian superstar shot for shot as they guided their team toward an improbable victory.
When Voll reached her half-century off 37 balls, the scoreboard flashed "Beware High Volltage!" – a fitting tribute to her electrifying batting display. Though she was eventually caught in the deep, her contribution proved crucial in setting up the dramatic finish.
Record Chase in Tense Final
Facing Delhi Capitals' imposing total of 4-203 – the highest score ever recorded in a WPL final – RCB needed something special. After Voll's dismissal, Mandhana continued the charge with an impressive 87 from 41 balls before also falling, leaving the team needing 13 runs from the final eight deliveries.
The tension mounted until Radha Yadav emerged as the cool-headed hero, striking two crucial boundaries off spinner Shree Charani in the penultimate over to seal victory with just two balls remaining. The win capped off a month-long tournament that showcased the very best of women's T20 cricket.
Harris's Unconventional Inspiration
Voll's Australian teammate Grace Harris played her own unique role in the victory, delivering an unconventional pre-match team talk that invoked tennis legend Roger Federer. The cheerful Toowoomba allrounder explained her approach to motivating the team before the crucial match in Vadodara.
"I may have tried to be intelligent and quote Roger Federer, one of my favourites and one of the most successful athletes, who only won 54 percent of all his points," Harris revealed. "So I just said to the girls, 'listen, you only have to win 54 per cent to win – so let's give it a good crack'. And look what happened!"
Though Harris was dismissed early for just nine runs during the chase, she contributed significantly in the field, taking the important catch that removed opener Lizelle Lee when she was building momentum on 37.
Filling the Void Left by Perry
The Australian duo helped compensate for the absence of Ellyse Perry, who decided to miss the season for personal reasons after guiding RCB to their previous title in 2024. Voll acknowledged the significance of her performance in the context of her season, stating: "I've felt like I couldn't hit the ball off the square for most of the season, so to come out there and perform in the final is obviously super special."
The team had enjoyed a beach break in Goa after qualifying early as the WPL's league leaders, and they demonstrated why they remain the competition's premier side even without their Australian superstar.
Tournament Honors and What's Next
Smriti Mandhana was deservedly named player of the match for her captain's innings, with Voll praising her teammate's effortless style. Mandhana also claimed the orange cap as the tournament's highest run-scorer with 377 runs, while Gujarat Giants' New Zealand veteran Sophie Devine earned player of the tournament honors.
Voll will now return to Australia for a brief rest period before joining the national team for a multi-format series against India beginning on February 15. The schedule includes three T20 matches in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide, followed by three ODIs in Brisbane and Hobart. The series will conclude with a blockbuster day-night Test match at the WACA in Perth from March 6-9.
The entire series will be broadcast live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport, giving Australian fans the opportunity to watch their stars in action against one of cricket's strongest opponents.
