The city of Bengaluru erupted with jubilation as the streets were flooded with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fans celebrating a hard-earned victory in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The triumph was an especially poignant moment for the franchise, which finally ended a 16-year trophy drought as the RCB women’s team clinched their maiden title in the second season of WPL 2024. Leading the charge was captain Smriti Mandhana, who steered her team to an impressive eight-wicket victory against the Delhi Capitals (DC).
The magnitude of the final match, set against the backdrop of RCB’s history of near-misses, only heightened the tension and excitement. Tasked with chasing a modest target of 114, RCB had a steady start. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine played with measured caution, crafting a foundational stand of 49 for the first wicket. However, the atmosphere bristled with nervous anticipation when Shikha Pandey of DC struck in the 9th over, sending Devine back to the pavilion and cracking open the door for Meg Lanning’s team to stage a comeback.
Ellyse Perry joined Mandhana at the crease, her conservative approach underpinning RCB’s tactical chase. Perry’s first sign of aggression came after facing multiple deliveries, signaling the urgency as RCB still had a significant run total to surmount. The game reached a critical juncture when Smriti Mandhana was dismissed with RCB still 30-plus runs adrift of their target.
Yet, the fall of Mandhana’s wicket turned out to be a twist rather than a turning point. Perry combined forces with the young Richa Ghosh, and together they batted with commendable composure and maturity. Their partnership soaked up the pressure and guided RCB across the finish line, sealing a historic win and securing RCB’s first ever title across all franchise league iterations.
As the players reveled in their triumph on the field, the fans carried the euphoria out onto the streets of Bengaluru. Social media was awash with videos capturing throngs of RCB supporters waving team flags, chanting the franchise’s name, and basking in the glow of a long-sought-after victory.
The win marked a watershed moment for the Women’s Premier League, demonstrating the growing passion and engagement with women’s cricket in India. The accolade was also a testament to the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, whose guidance proved vital in navigating her team to success in their first final appearance.
Contrastingly, the outcome served as another crushing blow to the Delhi Capitals, who faced the agony of consecutive final defeats despite being the first team to reach the summit clash. Meg Lanning, DC’s crestfallen captain, couldn’t hold back tears after the match held in Delhi, a poignant reminder of the thin line that separates the zenith of victory from the depths of defeat.
While RCB’s victory celebration raged on, the impact of this accomplishment reverberated far beyond Bengaluru’s streets. It was a victory to inspire the next generation of female cricketers, a milestone highlighting the progressive evolution of the sport in India. As the WPL continues to grow, the narrative of RCB’s historic win in 2024 will indubitably be etched in the annals of the sport’s history, serving as a harbinger of the bright future ahead for women’s cricket.
