'I have learned is to believe in yourself' - Smriti Mandhana opens up on self evolution after becoming WPL Champion

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched their maiden title in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024, with an emphatic 8-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals on Sunday. After a disappointing inaugural season plagued by self-doubt in high-pressure moments, RCB captain Smriti Mandhana led her team to glory with self-belief.

The spin quartet, spearheaded by Shreyanka Patil's match-winning figures of 4/12, dismantled Delhi's batting line-up, restricting them to a modest 113 runs.

Ellyse Perry and Richa Ghosh then shouldered the responsibility with the bat, guiding RCB to victory with eight wickets and three balls to spare.

Last year, RCB faltered in pressure situations, reflecting a lack of self-belief that hindered their performance. However, this season presented a different narrative, with Mandhana leading the charge with confidence, ultimately guiding RCB to their first major title in franchise cricket.

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'We still have a long way to go' - Smriti Mandhana 

Addressing the media post-victory, talking about her evolution, "One thing that I have learned is to believe in yourself. That was something I lacked in my last year when it did go wrong," she said.

"I doubted a few things in myself but that was the real conversation with my mind, I need to keep trusting myself and I think that was the biggest learning for me," Mandhana added.

Talking about the privilege of becoming the second Indian women's captain to lift the WPL title she said, "Last year when MI and DC were playing in the final, somewhere deep down I hoped that Harman lift it because the first edition of WPL and for an Indian captain to win if not me it has to be Harman. So I was happy for Harman and the whole MI team."

"Second season I became the second Indian captain to win. That shows the kind of depth Indian cricket has and it's just the start, we still have a long way to go," she concluded.

Also read: Champions Royal Challengers Bangalore Women set to grace Unbox event at Chinnaswamy

The Bengaluru-based franchise will be attending the grand celebration in Bengaluru on Tuesday, March 19 along with the upcoming RCB Unbox 2024 event of the men's team.