NEW DELHI: The Royal Challengers Bangalore men’s team paid tribute to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 champions, led by Smriti Mandhana, by giving them a guard of honour during the RCB Unbox event in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The RCB men’s team, featuring players like Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Reece Topley, Mohammed Siraj, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, Karn Sharma, and others, formed a guard of honour as Smriti and her team walked with the trophy.

The stars of the men’s team applauded the WPL champions as they passed by.

Following the guard of honour, the RCB women’s team took a victory lap around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, receiving cheers from fans in attendance. During this lap, Smriti engaged in a video call with star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
At the conclusion of the victory lap, the team posed with the trophy, marking their triumphant achievement in the WPL 2024 tournament.
RCB clinched the WPL trophy on Sunday with a comprehensive performance, showcasing excellence in all aspects of the game. Notably, spinners Sophie Molineux and Shreyanka Patil played pivotal roles in restricting Delhi Capitals to a modest total of 113.
RCB then comfortably chased down the target, securing an 8-wicket victory and sealing their championship title.

RCB’s men’s team will look to replicate the success with a squad that is a mix of talent, youth and experience.
The return of star batter Kohli to the field marks a significant moment for the team. Kohli missed both T20I matches in the series against Afghanistan in January and was also absent from the five-match Test series against England. His presence will undoubtedly bolster RCB’s batting lineup and provide invaluable leadership on the field.
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After linking up with the RCB squad, Virat said in a video posted by the franchise on social media, “It is really good to be back, firstly playing cricket. Also, exciting to come back to Bangalore for the start of the IPL season. Similar emotions, similar feelings. I have not been off the media radar for two months, I have been into normalcy you can say. I am pretty happy to be back, I hope all the fans are happy and excited as well.”

With the inclusion of seasoned players like Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell, RCB’s squad receives a significant boost, enhancing their prospects of dominating the powerplay phase of matches.
Moreover, RCB bolstered their squad during the IPL 2024 auction by securing the services of both foreign and Indian talents. Notable additions include Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, and Saurav Chauhan. These acquisitions add depth and versatility to the team, providing RCB with various options to excel in different match situations.
RCB is set to kick off their campaign in the season opener against the Chennai Super Kings on Friday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. With a formidable squad at their disposal, RCB will be eager to start their IPL 2024 journey on a winning note and stake their claim for the coveted title.
(With ANI inputs)