(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana, still basking in the afterglow of their historic Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 victory, struggled to articulate the full weight of the achievement. Mandhana lauded RCB fans during a post-match interview as she attempted to express the emotions swirling within.
RCB’s bowlers, who had been a force throughout the tournament, once again proved their mettle in the final, dismantling the Delhi Capitals (DC( batting line-up and restricting them to a paltry 113 runs. Chasing a modest target, the RCB batters exhibited remarkable composure, navigating any potential hiccups and ensuring a comfortable victory. This dominant display in the final capped off a remarkable journey for RCB, etching their names in the history books as the WPL 2024 champions.
“Feeling hasn’t still sunk in. Hard for me to come out with expressions,” Mandhana admitted, her voice thick with emotion.
Mandhana acknowledged the team’s mid-tournament slump. After a dominant run in Bangalore, they faced a reality check with two demoralising losses in Delhi.
“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,” she added.
Mandhana lauded the management’s unwavering support, saying, “Management just said this is your team, build it (your way). Thumbs up to them.”
True to her leadership style, Mandhana refused to take sole credit. “I am not the only one who won the trophy, the team has won the trophy. I’m not the person to talk about what I feel.”
With a hint of a smile breaking through, Mandhana placed the win in context. “This is in top five maybe. Obviously a World Cup would top it.”
Finally, she addressed the RCB fanbase, renowned for their unwavering loyalty.
“Have a message for the fans – the most loyal fanbase. One statement that
always comes up is Ee Sala Cup Namde. Now it’s Ee Sala Cup Namdu.
Kannada is not my first language but it was important to say it for the
fans,” Mandhana concluded.