NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain,
Smriti Mandhana
, credited the team's management for their unwavering support following their disappointment in the
Women's Premier League
(WPL) last year. Mandhana highlighted the lessons learned from the 2023 campaign, which contributed to their eventual triumph over Delhi Capitals in the final on Sunday, clinching the title with an eight-wicket victory.
Expressing her gratitude during the post-match presentation, Mandhana emphasized the crucial role played by the management in backing her and the team through challenging times.
"Last year taught us a lot of things, as a player, as a captain and as a team. The management, the way they backed me during the review after the season…they have been through a lot and a big thumbs up (to them)," Mandhana remarked, acknowledging the support received.
Reflecting on the significance of the title win, Mandhana admitted that the full weight of the achievement had yet to sink in. However, she expressed pride in the team's resilience and determination.
"The feeling has not sunk in yet, maybe it will take time. Hard for me to come out with a lot of expressions. Only thing I want to say is I am proud of the bunch," she stated.
Mandhana praised her team's ability to overcome challenges and perform when it mattered most, particularly highlighting their strong showing during the Bangalore leg of the tournament. She emphasized the importance of peaking at the right time in such competitive events, referencing their progression through the latter stages of the tournament.
The match saw a stellar performance from RCB's spin duo, Shreyanka Patil (4 for 12) and Sophie Molineux (3 for 20), who combined to restrict Delhi Capitals to 113 runs. Mandhana (31), along with Sophie Devine (32) and Elysse Perry (35*), guided RCB to victory with three balls to spare, securing the title in a convincing fashion.
In her message to the loyal RCB fan base, Mandhana expressed gratitude for their unwavering support, acknowledging their role in the team's success.
She concluded with a nod to the iconic "Ee Sala Cup Namde" chant, modifying it to "Ee Sala Cup Namdu" to signify the team's triumph.
Despite the disappointment of falling short in the final, Delhi Capitals' captain Meg Lanning admitted that RCB had outplayed them on the day. She commended her team's efforts throughout the tournament but acknowledged that RCB deserved the win.
(Inputs from PTI)
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