Smriti Mandhana and her team, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), faced heavy criticism and trolling after finishing fourth in the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), winning only two out of eight games. Despite the backlash, Mandhana displayed a sporting attitude and found humor in the situation. However, in a remarkable turnaround a year later, Mandhana led RCB to their maiden WPL title. In the final match against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, RCB emerged victorious with a convincing eight-wicket win. Mandhana’s leadership and stellar performance on the field played a significant role in RCB’s triumph, highlighting her resilience and determination to bounce back from setbacks.
In a high-octane encounter, the Delhi team’s openers, Shafali Verma and Meg Lanning, set the stage on fire with a scintillating start, amassing 64 runs in just 42 balls. However, the momentum took a dramatic turn when Sophie Molineux delivered a sensational over, claiming three wickets in just four balls, leaving the home team reeling. Despite the early setbacks, Delhi’s hopes were further dashed when Shreyanka Patil dismissed Lanning shortly after, causing havoc in the lower order. As a result, Delhi Capitals struggled to recover from the devastating blows, eventually folding for a meager total of just 113 runs in 18.3 overs, marking a remarkable turnaround in the match.
As Smriti Mandhana eagerly waited on the boundary ropes, poised to commence the chase for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), she couldn’t resist stealing a long glance at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title positioned in front of her. This fleeting moment, captured by a fan, quickly went viral on Instagram after RCB emerged victorious and lifted the coveted trophy. Mandhana’s gaze at the championship symbolized the culmination of her team’s hard work and determination, making the victory even more special for RCB and its fans.
Didn’t that look remind you of that song from the Hollywood movie Rocky III? “It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight. Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival…”
In the chase, the India vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, showcased her batting prowess with a watchful innings, scoring a 39-ball 31. She formed a crucial 49-run opening partnership alongside Sophie Devine, guiding Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a promising start. However, the Delhi bowlers tightened their grip in the middle overs, stifling the run-scoring and turning what seemed like a comfortable chase into a thrilling contest. Despite the mounting pressure, Mandhana’s composed innings played a pivotal role in RCB’s pursuit of the target.
In a nail-biting finish, Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh displayed nerves of steel in the final over of the match. With the pressure mounting, Ghosh sealed the victory for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by smashing the title-winning boundary, culminating in a thrilling win with just three balls to spare.
During the post-match presentation, an elated Smriti Mandhana encapsulated RCB’s remarkable journey from a forgettable Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 season to their triumphant title-winning campaign in 2024. Mandhana’s words resonated with the team’s perseverance, resilience, and dedication, highlighting the sheer determination that propelled them to success despite facing challenges along the way.
She stated: “Feeling hasn’t still sunk in. It is hard for me to come out with expressions. One thing I’ll say is I’m proud of the bunch. Our Bangalore leg was really good. We came to Delhi and had two tough losses. That’s what we spoke about that we need to step up at the right time. These tournaments are about peaking at the right time. Last year taught us a lot of things. What went wrong, what went right. Management just said this is your team, build it (your way). Thumbs up to them.”
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