The streets of Bengaluru were filled with joyous celebrations as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched their first-ever title in the 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on March 17. RCB’s triumph was fueled by a dominant bowling performance, securing an eight-wicket victory with three balls to spare.
This victory symbolized a remarkable turnaround for Smriti Mandhana and her team, who had a lacklustre season in the tournament’s inaugural edition, finishing fourth with only two wins. However, this year they displayed resilience, starting strong and overcoming numerous obstacles to reach the pinnacle of success. Each player rose to the occasion, contributing significantly to RCB’s journey to clinch the prestigious title.
Women's Premier League craze outside RCB Cafe in Bengaluru.
— Karthik Reddy (@bykarthikreddy) March 17, 2024
Major shift in Indian Sports. pic.twitter.com/hvK5bHrv99
Last Night's Visuals From Bengaluru After RCB's Winn🏆❤️ pic.twitter.com/e8VIiARRkt
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) March 18, 2024
Es Sala Cup Namdu ❤️
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) March 17, 2024
~ Smriti Mandhana
Bengaluru goings nuts today – A New Festival for RCB fans ❤️#RCBvDC #SmritiMandhana #WPLFinal #ViratKohli𓃵pic.twitter.com/qEwIomzkwZ
The euphoria of RCB’s win overflowed onto the streets of Bengaluru, with fans rejoicing over the long-awaited glory. Social media platforms were flooded with videos capturing the ecstatic celebrations of fans revelling in their team’s triumph. This victory held special significance for Bengaluru, a city yearning for success since the inception of the Indian Premier League, where the men’s team has yet to secure a title despite making it to the final three times.
In the match, Delhi Capitals skipper Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that ultimately backfired. RCB’s bowling attack, led by Sophie Molineux, wreaked havoc on the DC batting lineup. Molineux’s remarkable spell saw her dismiss Jemimah Rodrigues and Alice Capsey for ducks in consecutive deliveries, followed by the crucial wicket of Shafali Verma (44). Shreyanka Patil and Asha Shobhana also made significant contributions, picking up four and two wickets, respectively, as RCB bundled out DC for a below-par total of 113 runs in 18.3 overs.
During the chase, Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine provided a solid foundation, adding 49 runs for the opening wicket. Later, Ellyse Perry and Richa Gosh took charge, guiding RCB to victory with Perry’s unbeaten 35 and Gosh’s 17 ensuring a comfortable win with three balls to spare.
Overall, RCB’s triumph in the WPL 2024 final not only brought joy to their fans but also served as a testament to their resilience and determination, showcasing their ability to overcome challenges and emerge victorious on the grandest stage of women’s cricket.
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