RCB Claims First-Ever League Title with Smriti Mandhana’s Heroics in WPL 2024 Victory over DC

The women have achieved what the men couldn’t, and they did so with remarkable composure. Royal Challengers Bangalore finally broke their streak of bad luck by winning their first-ever title in franchise leagues. Last season, RCB had a disappointing run, finishing fourth with only two wins. However, their fortunes changed dramatically in WPL 2024, starting strong and gaining momentum. Although they faced challenges on their way to the playoffs, their key players delivered when it mattered most, leading them to secure the coveted title.

They achieved this victory by defeating Delhi Capital by 8 wicket margin in the Women Premier league’s second season held at Arun Jaitley Stadium.RCB successfully chased down 114 runs to win the match, led by all-rounder Ellyse Perry who scored an unbeaten 35 runs from 37 balls. However, the victory was primarily due to the bowlers, particularly the spin quartet of Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, and Georgia Wareham, who took nine out of the 10 wickets to dismiss DC for 113 runs. Perry and Patil emerged as the top run-scorer and wicket-taker of the tournament with 347 runs and 13 wickets, respectively.

Bengaluru Erupts in Celebration as RCB secured their first title

RCB’s journey commenced at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where they dazzled their supporters with memorable performances throughout the first half of the season. The fervent fanbase cultivated by the RCB men’s team extended their unwavering support to the women’s side, led by Smriti Mandhana, who carried forward the team’s legacy with determination. In an electrifying low-scoring encounter, RCB secured their debut championship by defeating Delhi Capitals in the WPL final at Arun Jaitley Stadium, triumphing by eight wickets. 

Following this monumental victory, Bengaluru witnessed an outpouring of celebration as fans poured onto the streets, reveling in the long-awaited glory that had been anticipated since the inception of the Indian Premier League, as the men’s team had yet to achieve a similar feat.

RCB captain Smriti Mandhana expressed her gratitude to the team’s loyal fan base following their title victory, stating that their unwavering support was instrumental in the team’s success. In her post-match remarks, Mandhana referenced the popular fan chant “Ee Sala Cup Namde” (The Cup will be ours this time) and modified it to “Ee Sala Cup Namdu” (The Cup is ours this time) to reflect their triumph. Similarly, RCB off-spinner Shreyanka Patil, who topped the WPL wicket-taking charts with 13 wickets, echoed Mandhana’s sentiments, attributing the victory to the passionate support of the fans who continuously chanted “Ee Sala Cup Namde.”

Virat Kohli’s  congratulated Smriti Mandhana as she secured  first WPL trophy for RCB

Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest batsmen and the former captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) men’s team, showered his praises upon the RCB women’s team. He not only conveyed his congratulations to the team through a heartfelt video call but also took to Instagram to share his sentiments publicly. Kohli’s Instagram post was filled with admiration and respect for the ‘Superwomen’ of RCB, highlighting their remarkable achievement in winning the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 title. His words of appreciation resonated deeply with fans and supporters, underscoring the significance of the women’s team’s success and their contributions to the franchise’s legacy.

The RCB women’s team secured not only titles and admiration but also a substantial cash reward. The WPL champions receive a prize of Rs 6 crore, while the runners-up, such as Delhi Capitals Women in this instance, are awarded Rs 3 crore.

For further details you can refer to this Telegraph article.