After a wait of 16 years, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have won the title – not the IPL but WPL – and their fans are going wild with joy.
Following the Smriti Mandhana-led team’s triumph on Sunday, March 18, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the RCB fan base let its emotions flow. A franchise which has always been blessed with enormous talent but inexplicably has fallen short repeatedly had finally ascended the throne. This is bound to be seen as a watershed moment, and the supporters definitely did.
Following the win, RCB loyalists emerged on the streets of several cities across India to celebrate. They chanted their team’s name and also hailed the skipper who led them to the title.
Who are we? RCB, RCB!
Here are some scenes from the celebrations.
Delhi, home to Delhi Capitals, the team that ended up on the losing side in the big final, would have been expected to be somewhat gloomy. However, the RCB fanbase made their presence felt there too.
The Whole Delhi stadium chanting "RCB, RCB" in WPL Final.
– RCB IS EMOTION FOR FANS…!!!!! pic.twitter.com/SiHZVbfeo8
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 17, 2024
In the franchise’s home state, Karnataka, the celebrations reached the city of Dharwad too, showing the pan-state appeal of the team.
Winning Celebration in DHARWAD City Karnataka.
Craze of #RCB RCB RCB?? Begins!!!#WPL2024 #WPLFinal #DCvRCB #RCBUnboxpic.twitter.com/sIlYoJIpQx
— MNV Gowda (@MNVGowda) March 17, 2024
And of course, Bengaluru went wild. After 16 years of saying ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde (This year, the cup is ours)’ without success, they finally had the trophy.
BENGALURU HAVE GONE Crazy AFTER THE TROPHY WIN. ??with RCb RCB chants
Imagine the atmosphere post Ee Sala Cup Namde for RCB Men
pic.twitter.com/23bOVZO600— ICT Fan (@Delphy06) March 17, 2024
Numerous other streets witnessed the wild celebrations.
5 Trophies never gives you Fanbase like RCB#RCB pic.twitter.com/Ul1NlqmkgN
— ???????? (@AnushSpidey1) March 17, 2024
RCB…RCB…. ????? pic.twitter.com/o2usZoPAVv
— Vamsivardhan PKVK (@Vamsivardhan_2) March 17, 2024
ABSOLUTE MAD SCENES IN BANGALORE ??
Chants of RCB RCB post "Ee Sala Cup Namde"
pic.twitter.com/UhzkebirBb— ICT Fan (@Delphy06) March 17, 2024
RCB too hot to handle for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2024 Final
In the big finale at the Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the home team won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision seemed to go in their favor in the powerplay. Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma gave their side a brilliant start. The Capitals were 50/0 in just 4.5 overs.
Going at over 10/over, Delhi were 61/0 after the powerplay. It was Lanning who was boosting her side’s scoring rate, as she scored 44 off 27. Shafali, on the other hand, only scored at run-a-ball. At the score of 64, Delhi lost their first wicket, in the form of Shafali.
What followed was a collapse. Player of the Match Sophie Molineux had astonishing figures of 3/20 from her four overs. Shreyanka Patil’s bowling analysis was even better, 3/12 from 3.3. In fact, Molineux picked up three wickets from four balls in the eighth over. As a result, Delhi were bowled out for 113 in 18.3 overs.
In reply, RCB went about their chase clinically. Mandhana didn’t play in T20 style, scoring 31 in 39 balls. But that was sufficient for the situation. Sophie Devine scored 32 off 27 balls while Ellyse Perry too played a steady hand, remaining unbeaten on 35 off 37. Richa Ghosh was at the other end with Perry when RCB crossed the line, with eight wickets and three balls remaining.