As a franchise, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 was a special one for Royal Challengers Bangalore. As a franchise, the RCB is yet to win the Indian Premier League. However, it’s women’s team made history by wining the Women’s Premier League 2024 under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana. The win will undoubtedly boost the confidence of the men’s team as well. After RCB defeated Delhi Capitals in the final, Virat Kohli could be seen celebrating the win over a video call.

Vrat Kohli has been ever present in the RCB ranks since the IPL started in 2008. His happiness was evident. On Tuesday, he and other RCB men’s team members could be seeing giving ‘Guard of Honour’ to their women’s counterparts at the RCB Unbox event.

Guard of honour for the Girls, the WPL CHAMPIONS #RCBUnboxpic.twitter.com/CkY9mZVndS

— RCB Xtra. (@Rcb_Xtra) March 19, 2024

Guard of honour by the RCB men’s team for their champion women’s. Great gesture by @RCBTweets.#RCBChampions #RCBUnbox #RCB #IPL #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/iHZLy2bcYy

— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) March 19, 2024

RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana feels it’s not right for people to undermine Virat Kohli’s achievements for the Bengaluru franchise in the wake of her side’s Women’s Premier League title triumph recently.

The Mandhana-led RCB defeated Delhi Capitals to lift the WPL trophy in only their second year, while their male counterparts, led by the charismatic Kohli for nearly a decade before he stepped down, haven’t had 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 that 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 comparison between the two based on that was unwarranted.

“I would not 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 title should define anything,” she added.

Mandhana felt that the men’s counterparts had always played good competitive cricket but an IPL title had 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 well. 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.

With PTI inputs