As a franchise, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 was such a special one for Royal Challengers Bangalore. As a franchise, RCB is yet to win the Indian Premier League. However, its women’s team, under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, made history by winning the Women’s Premier League 2024. Undoubtedly, the win will boost the men’s team’s confidence as well. RCB defeated Delhi Capitals in the final, and Virat Kohli could be seen celebrating the win over a video call!!!
Interestingly, Virat Kohli has been present in the RCB ranks since the IPL began in 2008. His happiness was very evident. On Tuesday, he and other RCB men’s team members could be seen giving a ‘Guard of Honour’ to their women’s counterparts at the RCB Unbox event.
RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana feels it’s not right for people to undermine Virat Kohli’s achievements for the Bengaluru franchise given her side’s Women’s Premier League title triumph recently.
Mandhana-led RCB defeated Delhi Capitals to lift the WPL trophy just in their second year, while their male counterparts, the ones led by the charismatic Kohli for nearly a decade before he stepped down, haven’t tasted success in the 16 years of IPL.
“The title is one thing, but what he (Kohli) has achieved for India is remarkable. So, I don’t think the comparison is right in terms of where my career is and what he has already achieved,” Mandhana told the media on Tuesday.
“The reason why I do not like the comparison is that what he has achieved is great; he has been an inspirational person. A title does not define a lot of things; we all respect him and I feel like the respect has to be right up there for Virat; So, there is nothing different from me as well,” said the India vice-captain.
Both Mandhana and Kohli wear No. 18 jerseys, and the left-handed batter said drawing comparisons between the two based on that was unwarranted.
“I wouldn’t term it as an 18 comparison. The jersey number is just a personal choice; my birth date is 18th, and I have 18 on my back… it does not define how he plays or (how) I play my cricket. He’s been an inspiration to us in a lot of aspects, so I would not say the title should define anything,” she added.
Mandhana felt that the men’s counterparts have always played good competitive cricket, but an IPL title has eluded them.
“I think, to be fair, the men’s team has also played good cricket in the last 16 years; it is not like they have not played good. I don’t think the comparison is right. RCB is a franchise; let’s treat the men’s and women’s teams separately because we don’t want to be compared.
“They are good at what they do. We are good at what we do,” she added.