The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) continue their strong performance in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, securing a 23-run victory against UP Warriorz at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 4. RCB captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored 80 runs in the match, praised the overwhelming support from the Bengaluru crowd, calling it a win for women’s cricket.
Reflecting on the fan experience in Bengaluru, Mandhana highlighted the passionate support from the crowd, comparing it to the energy of men’s cricket matches. She expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic turnout, stating that the support received by RCB and women’s cricket in general was heartening. Mandhana credited the loyal RCB fanbase for their unwavering support, noting that the team had felt the love and support throughout their stay in Bengaluru.
“We’ll see if the Delhi crowd can match the energy of the Bangalore crowd. We have seen men’s cricket here, I had come in 2016 to watch a match and the crowd was similar and the atmosphere was like this. The way people have supported me has been great to see. As a women’s cricketer, at that moment, I think women’s cricket has won. I am saying this not just about Smriti Mandhana or RCB, I feel like women’s cricket is winning. Last year, Mumbai had a good turnout. Bangalore was crazy, especially for our matches. It was great watching people come and support not just the home team but also the others. They call RCB the most loyal fanbase. We saw it this time. We couldn’t even step out in Bangalore for the last 15 days, it’s that good! It’s a win for women’s cricket and the entire fraternity.”
Mandhana also commended teammate S Meghana’s performance, acknowledging her hard work and dedication. She praised Meghana’s ability to bounce back and contribute to the team’s success, emphasizing the importance of supporting each other’s strengths in the team.
“I can’t take any credit, the way she has come back is amazing. I discussed this with her after the auction and told her that I had full faith in her, after what she had done on the domestic circuit. I had a similar season, so what could I even say? I just had this conversation with her that, ‘I know your strengths, your strength is that you can hit a six any day. Other than that, whatever is not your strength, just leave that to me’. To be fair, she’s working very hard and I can see that.”
Sushma Verma, discussing Mandhana’s knock, lauded her leadership and batting prowess, noting that as an opener, Mandhana set the tone for the innings. Verma praised Mandhana’s strategic decisions and positive body language, highlighting her impact as a leader on the field.
“Her contribution was great as a batter and a leader. When you’re the opener, you set the tone. You decide where the game is going to go, and Smriti showed that with her batting. The shots she played, and the length of her innings shows how impactful she was. As a leader, her body language shows how she’s feeling. Last season, she seemed upset while making decisions as they weren’t bringing in results. But today, it felt great to see her enjoy these decisions.”
Saba Karim analyzed RCB’s win, noting that UP Warriorz were competitive initially but struggled after losing key wickets. He praised RCB’s performance, describing the victory as a well-scripted win for the team in front of their home crowd. Karim emphasized the significance of finishing the Bengaluru leg on a high note, acknowledging the strong support from the fans.
The win keeps RCB in contention for the top spot in the WPL 2024, with the team set to play their next match against Gujarat Giants at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The performance of RCB and the support from the fans in Bengaluru have been a testament to the growing popularity and success of women’s cricket.
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